Esther Oleta Roland

Esther Oleta Roland, 91, passed away on February 11, 2025, at her home surrounded by her
loving family. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 17, 2025, at
Pierschbacher’s new location, located at 309 W. Main St. Knoxville, Iowa. Family will receive
guests at 9:30 prior to the service. A luncheon will be held immediately following services. Oleta
will be interred with her husband, David, in Greenwood Cemetery at a later date.
Oleta was born in Monroe, Iowa on December 27, 1933, to Robert and Myrtle (Kingery)
Schrader. She attended school in Knoxville, Iowa. In 1951, she married a young man named
David Roland in a ceremony in Oskaloosa, Iowa. They stayed by each other’s side for 56 years
until his passing in 2007. Oleta spent most of her working years lovingly raising her family as
well as working on the farm.
She had many passions throughout her life. She enjoyed bowling for many years, and was even
featured on the TV show “Let’s Go Bowling.” Oleta also loved passing time with a card game,
puzzle, or a John Wayne western. She also found solace in sitting down and simply watching
the birds outside. Oleta loved watching sports, faithfully following her Chicago Cubs and Iowa
Hawkeyes. She was lucky enough to watch a game at Kinnick Stadium. Oleta was thankful she
lived to see her beloved Cubbies win a World Series.
While she enjoyed her Cubs and Hawkeyes, Oleta’s favorite sporting events were those of her
grandchildren. She was always caught up in the action, sitting in the front row cheering. Oleta
was the perfect grandmother, always making sure the kids knew she was there for them. Her
love for family was evident in everything she did. Her family will deeply miss her loving and
occasionally stubborn ways.
Left to cherish Oleta’s memory are her sons, Bob Roland and Tim (Sara) Roland; grandchildren:
Tate (Jena) Roland, Matthew Roland, Stephanie (Geoff Dye) Roland, Travis (Kelsey) Roland,
Doug Roland, and Dalton (Shauna) Roland; nine great grandchildren; and three great-great
grandchildren, and her ex-daughter in-law, Cheryl Roland.
She was preceded by her parents; husband, David Roland; son, Doug Roland; daughter in-law,
Carlene Roland; and her brothers, Harold Schrader and Tom Schrader.