Obituary of Roland LaVerne Sampson

COLESBURG, IOWA Rollie L. Sampson, 77, of Colesburg, Iowa died Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at Finley Hospital, Dubuque, Iowa surrounded by his family after a long illnesses. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2014, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville. Friends may continue to call after 9:30 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Colesburg. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2014, at Colesburg United Methodist Church in Colesburg with burial in the church cemetery. Allen Craft will officiate. Rollie was born July 19, 1936, in Colesburg, the second child of Howard and Hazel (O'Neal) Sampson. He attended Colesburg High School and Upper Iowa University on a football scholarship. Rollie worked at the Ertl Toy Company before opening the Eighth Inning in Colesburg. He retired from sales at Kendrick Forest Products in Edgewood in 2004. On November 16, 1957, Rollie married Beverly Jean Fitzgerald. Beverly survives him along with their 2 children: Rhonda (Tim) Kendrick of Edgewood, Robyn (Kyle) Maiers of Dyersville; 7 grandchildren: Kerra (Troy) Boriskey, Andrea (Eric) Harbaugh, Morgan & Kirby Kendrick, Jenna, Michael & Sage Maiers; 1 great granddaughter, Lilee Boriskey; 1 brother, Richard (Fay) Sampson of Colesburg; 1 sister: Rosie (Greg) Elvidge of Cedar Rapids; in-laws: Rachel Sampson of Evansville, IN, Robert Fitzgerald of Dyersville, Mary Jane Banning of Vancouver, WA, James "Cheetah" Fitzgerald of Oelwein, and Carol (Leo) Klostermann of Dyersville; and numerous nieces and nephews. Rollie was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Robert, as well as his parents-in-law, Cleo and Lucille Fitzgerald, in-laws: John (Jean) Fitzgerald, Dale Fitzgerald, Lois Fitzgerald, Sylvia Fitzgerald, Keith Banning, Ed (Karen) Fitzgerald and Marion "Cookie" Fitzgerald. Rollie was an outstanding athlete at Colesburg High School and played football, basketball and baseball at Upper Iowa University. After college he played baseball for the Dyersville White Hawks for many years. His love of sports never faded as his children and grandchildren grew up he taught and watched them with the same enthusiasm. Rollie was a passionate person who took great pride in his family, sports, unique farm animals and woodworking. He spent many years in his shop building beautiful furniture for his family and the community. Rollie's final years were spent taking care of his animals, watching his grandchildren play ball, and still trying to improve his golf game. Memorials are preferred.