Rosamond E. Goodlander

Rosamond Elaine (Sojka) Goodlander, age 93, of Washington, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at Halcyon House in Washington. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 6, 2023, at Prairie Flower Baptist Church with Pastor David Cotner officiating. The family will be present to receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. Memorials have been established for the Washington County Genealogy Society. Online condolences may be sent for Rosamond’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Rosamond Elaine Sojka was born January 16, 1930, on her parents’ farm in Jackson Township, to Raymond and Frances (Perrin) Sojka. She attended Egypt Country School and graduated from Washington High School in 1948, where she participated in many extra-curricular activities. She was united in marriage to Joe M. Goodlander on February 26, 1950. Together they raised four daughters. Rosamond attended Iowa State College for one year and then spent the summer at Iowa Wesleyan College where she obtained her teaching certificate. She taught at Eureka and Havre schools, after which she took 15 years off to raise her family. She helped her husband with the farming operation. Rosamond started back teaching at Pleasant Hill rural school near Kalona, then taught reading at Wellman and West Chester, after which she taught first grade in Kalona. During this time she went back to school taking Saturday classes, night classes and summer school. She earned her degree in 1971 from Iowa Wesleyan College. She combined her education with many post graduate classes. She was very actively involved in 4-H from the age of 12 until she was in Campus 4-H at Iowa State. She was elected Washington County 4-H President, served as Furrow Queen, and was on a winning demonstration team at the Iowa State Fair. She later served five years as a 4-H leader. Rosamond was a member of Prairie Flower Baptist Church where she served as a choir member, Sunday School Teacher and youth leader. She also participated in the ladies groups. She enjoyed many hobbies. Some of which were knitting, crocheting, beading, painting, polymer clay, genealogy, and sewing. She was a charter member of the Washington County Genealogy Society. She was also a member of ISEA and NEA as well as the H.J. Club. She is survived by four daughters, Connie (John) Maw of Muscatine, Iowa; Carolyn (Paul) Bennett of Nokesville, Virginia; Darla (Steven) Koon of Galloway, Ohio; and Delaina (Kerry) Stripling of Mason City, Iowa; fourteen grandchildren and twenty five great grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Lovila Jane Rinaldo of Varna, Illinois; and sister-in-law, Yun Goodlander of Washington, Iowa; as well as many nieces and nephews. Rosamond was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Frances Sojka, her husband Joe in 2017; two brothers, Raymond Sojka and Leland John Sojka; two sisters, Ethel Darlene Kelley; and Frances McGaffey; two sisters-in-law, and five brothers-in-law; one great grandson and one nephew.

Rosamond E. Goodlander

January 16, 1930 - January 31, 2023