Harlan Keith Roorda

Harlan Keith Roorda, age 86 of Prairie City, died Friday, May 18, 2012 at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Prairie City United Methodist Church, with burial following at Waveland Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. The family will greet friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Prairie City United Methodist Church or Heifer International and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.

The son of John J. and Anna Mae (DeWinter) Roorda, Harlan was born on January 2, 1926 in Taintor, Iowa, the oldest of fifteen children. He married Marilyn McFadden on November 27, 1954, and since 1956 they made their home southeast of Prairie City on what is now a Century Farm. Harlan was a member of the Prairie City United Methodist Church and the Lion's Club, enjoyed antique plowing and tractor rides with his brothers, and was active with Heifer International.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Marilyn, a son Richard Roorda of Prairie City; daughter, Rev. Lee (Daniel) Schott of Polk City, and three grandsons, Gabriel, William, and Charles. Also surviving are his siblings: Joyce Stone of Grinnell, Barb (Sam) Foster of New Sharon, Loren (Arlene) of Montezuma, Norman (Dena) of Oskaloosa, Patricia Davis of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Elmer (Delaine) of Oskaloosa, Marge (Paul) Clayton of Grinnell, Virgil (Rosy) of Barnes City, Sharon (Frank) Fowler of Grinnell, Linda Mason of Pueblo, Colorado, Lyle (Judy) of Montezuma, and Bruce (Judi) of Montezuma.

Preceding Harlan in death were his parents and a brother Marvin and a sister Marilyn.