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RoZella Sorrenson-Grabin

OXFORD, Iowa — RoZella Sorrenson-Grabin, 67, died Dec. 16, 2018.

Visitation was Dec. 21 at the church.

Funeral services were Dec. 22 at the Oxford United Methodist Church, followed with burial at the Grabin Cemetery, northwest of Oxford.

Arrangements were under the direction of Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services, Oxford.

RoZella was born July 20, 1951, to Joyce and MerLynn Sorrenson, Hartington. The Sorrensons moved frequently throughout RoZella’s childhood, her father, MerLynn, in search of educating himself and improving their lives. RoZella spent time as a child and adolescent in Hartington and Laurel; Yankton, S.D.; Osceola, and Ft. Dodge, Iowa, with her family finally settling in Iowa City in 1968. She was in the first graduating class of West High School in 1969, later doing classwork at Waldorf College, Kirkwood Community College, and the University of Iowa. RoZella worked at a nursing home, Proctor and Gamble, and for six months, a second-shift job in North Carolina living with her sister and brother-in-law, JoLynn and Arley Phillips. She returned to Iowa City, and in 1974, RoZella was hired by the City of Iowa City, spending most of her 40 years of employment by Iowa City in the Solid Waste and Street Departments. In her youth, RoZella enjoyed traveling. She also enjoyed league bowling, playing many years with Doc’s Standard. When her bowling days came to an end, Rosie and a core group of pals continued to meet for supper and socializing. She was also active in the Oxford Methodist Church for many years. In 2005, RoZella married her long-time partner, Lee Michael Grabin, Oxford. She was step mother to Adam Grabin, his wife, Jeri, and later step grandmother to her beloved grandchildren, Wesley and Hannah.

When RoZella and Lee moved to the farm, they were surrounded by a close-knit family. RoZella found herself a magnet for cats, kittens, and even a dog or two on the farm. It was around this time that Rosie became involved with Johnson County Humane Society, serving as a Board Member and Officer for many years. Rosie was an awardwinning “feral cat wrangler” donning thick gloves and expertly maneuvering nets and traps, and she helped many others with trap-neuter-return of their own barn cats. She drove countless “food runs” to Davenport, Cedar Rapids, and other locations, to pick up literally tons of donated pet food, which she then helped unload, and distribute to those in need. She helped with other JCHS activities, including book sales, yard sales, and other fundraisers. Rose was the “go to” person whenever JCHS needed a pair of strong hands and a sturdy pick-up truck.

RoZella is survived by her partner and husband of many years, Lee Grabin; step son, Adam (Jeri) Grabin; step grandchildren, Wesley and Hannah Grabin; in-laws, Ray and Dorothy Grabin; sister-in-law, Debbie (Dean) Lefebure; brothers-in-law, Joel (Joan) Grabin, and James (Barb) Grabin; her sister, JoLynn (Arley) Phillip,s and nephew, Patrick Phillips, Kentucky; and Nebraska family, aunt, Loretta Wohlman; cousins, Susan (Vernon) Hesse, Guy Wohlman, Gary (Julie) Wohlman, and Grant (Carol) Wohlman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

RoZella Sorrenson-Grabin is preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, RoZella requested that donations be made to Oxford First Responders, The Bird House - Hospice Home of Johnson County, Iowa City Hospice, Johnson County Humane Society, where a fund for community and feral cats has been established in her name.

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