Harold J. Rossiter

Harold "Toot" Rossiter, 87, of Ottawa, Illinois, passed away Friday, October 11, 2013, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 21, 2013, at St. Mary's Church in Naplate with Rev. Mike Adrie officiating. Burial will be in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery with Military Services. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2013, at Ottawa Funeral Home and also one hour prior to Mass at Church on Monday. Harold was born in Ottawa, Illinois, to Walter and Emma (Poutre) Rossiter, Sr. He married MarrLa Van Craen on October 23, 1948, at St. Mary's Church in Naplate. He retired from the Libbey Owens Ford Company after 39 years of service. He was a Life Member of Aluminum Brick and Glass. A Veteran of WWII, Harold joined the United States Navy August 5, 1943. He served in both the European Theatre and the Atlantic Theatre with Composite Squadron #12, USS Kasaan Bay, USS Barnes, Sub Group #1, Boston Group, and Atlantic Reserve Fleet. He received the World War II Victory Medal, the American Area Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal. He was honorably discharged on March 24, 1947. On June 4, 2004, during a commemoration ceremony for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, Consul General of France, Dominique Decherf, presented Harold with a "Thank You America Certificate" from the French Government for his contribution to the liberation of France during WWII. The ceremony was held at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. "Toot" was instrumental in starting the Naplate Fire Department in 1949. He led this charge after discovering the Ottawa Fire Department could not respond to a fire call in Naplate due to how the Ottawa Fire Department was funded. He served as the First Assistant Chief of the Naplate Fire Department and was awarded a Charter Membership in 2009. A true volunteer, "Toot" was a founding member of the Ottawa River Rescue Squad in 1957. He served as the first Treasurer for the organization and also designed and created the Ottawa River Rescue Squad logo that is still used today. He is listed as a Lifetime member and a Charter member of the Ottawa River Rescue Squad. Through the years, he volunteered his time and served with many other organizations including the Ottawa Sea Scouts, the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and St. Mary's Men's Club. "Toot" is survived by his loving wife; one daughter, Marcia ( Dwayne) Ellis of Ottawa; two sons, Dennis (Sharon) and John (Lori) both of Ottawa; five grandchildren, Lonna (Tony) Higgins of Collinsville, Josiah (Elizabeth) Hortega of Purcellville, VA, Stephanie (Eli) Johnson, Nathan Rossiter and Chris Rossiter, all of Marseilles; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters, Jane Mucci, Alyce Erickson, and Kathleen Bumgarner; his brothers, Robert (Betty) Rossiter and Donald "Diz" Rossiter; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son (Michael) in infancy; one sister, Evelyn Orsini; and two brothers, Walter P. Jr. and one in infancy; his niece, Cynthia Kubinski; and his nephew, Don Mucci. Pallbearers will be Josiah Hortega, Nathan Rossiter, Chris Rossiter, Eli Johnson, Tony Higgins, Michael Strange, Chris Parker, and Frank Picchi. Honorary pallbearers will be Kenny Geiger, Val Polancic, Raymond Wielgopolan, Andy Ftacek, Bill Mucci, and Kurt Bumgarner. "Toot" was a humble man with a gentle loving spirit. He worked hard all his life and never complained. He was always satisfied with his "lot in life", loved his family and truly cared about making this world a better place for everyone. No person was a stranger to him and he was always willing to share whatever he hadone of those guys that would take the shirt off his own back if he thought someone else needed it more. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary Missions.