Josephine J. (Hartl) Rozinek, 97, of rural Ely, died after a brief illness on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at Northbrook Manor Care Center, Cedar Rapids.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Saint John's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Tuesday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2nd Street S.E., Cedar Rapids, where a rosary begins at 6:30 P.M.

Josephine was born to Edward F. and Dora A. (Mackey) Hartl in Putnam Township, Linn County, Iowa on January 18, 1919. She was the oldest of four farm girls ("daddy's boys") and a younger brother. She attended rural Honey Grove and Jappa Schools until 8th grade in 1933.

She met Louis Rozinek at a polka dance in 1936 and they married on May 1, 1940. Together they had four children: Patsy, Rose, John and Ed. They started farming with just 3 cows, 2 sows, 10 pigs and 300 chicks on rented land from her grandpa Mackey. Over the next 66 years with Lou, this grew into a thriving family farm on 345 owned acres.

In 1983, Josephine toured 11 countries in Europe with her sisters Dorothy and Margaret.

Josephine was a member of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church her whole life.

Her love and memories are cherished by her sisters, Dorothy Vislisel of Bertram and Margaret Barta of Cedar Rapids, and brother, Edward "Sonny" (Madonna) Hartl of Bertram; children, Rose (Bob) Carlo and Ed Rozinek of Ely; daughter-in-law, Bernita Rozinek Ford of Ely; 7 grandchildren, Brian, Lisa, Raeanne, Stacey, Stacy, Tammy and Todd; 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis, her son, John Rozinek and daughter, Patsy Howell and husband Bunyan Jr.; her parents, Edward and Dora; her sister, Rose Barnett and husband Eugene Sr.; and brothers-in-law, Robert Vislisel and Louis Barta.