Laetitia Cook Rotter, of Fort Madison, passed away at her home on Jan 26, 2023.
The daughter of Benjamin and Ernestine Pletscher Cook, she was the 4th generation of her family to reside on the ancestral acres of the Cook Family Farm between Primrose and Mt Hamill, Iowa.
She rode her Shetland pony 2.5 miles to primrose school and graduated from Donnellson high school. She attended Parsons college and Gem City Business College and was employed by radio station WTAD (KHQA) in Quincy IL.
She married her high school sweetheart, J. Wilbur Rotter and they became the proud parents of two treasured sons, Bradley and Ward who enthusiastically supported the family’s purebred Angus cattle operation breeding and exhibiting prize winning show cattle at multiple state fairs and exhibitions.
Laetitia was employed for many years at Fort Madison’s first radio station KXGI where she served as Continuity Director and delivered a popular daily broadcast “Over the Backyard Fence”.
She loved fashion and for many years produced and narrated seasonal style shows for the once vibrant community of clothiers in Burlington, Fort Madison, and Keokuk.
in the early 50s she founded Fort Madison's first community theater, where she appeared in many productions. Her last stage performance was the lead in the Old Fort Players production of “On Golden Pond” when she was in her late 80s.
At age 40, she graduated with honors (Cum Laude) from Iowa Wesleyan College and enjoyed a 28 year career as a reading teacher at Central Lee. Her life mission was to instill a love of learning for her students which would last a lifetime.
Laetitia and Wilbur traveled extensively and enjoyed the memorable vacations in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Russia, and South America. Their favorite destination was domestic with decades of twice annual trips to San Francisco to visit sons and grandchildren.
Laetitia and Wilbur move from rural West Point to Fort Madison in 2004. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years in 2014 and was ever appreciative of her caring and compassionate neighbors. A lifelong member of Sharon Presbyterian Church, she also cherished her church family at the Union Presbyterian where she enthusiastically participated in vocal and hand bell choirs.
Other organizational affiliations to include Lee County Retired Teachers Association, Monday Afternoon Study Club, Fort Madison Area Arts Association, Tri State Women’s Connection, and the Burlington Civic Music Association. After recently researching her genealogy, Laetitia was just inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Survivors include much loved sons Brad (Lisa) Austin, Texas, and Ward (Barbara) San Juan, PR grandson Blake Rotter, Stockholm, Sweden and granddaughters Dr Julianna Rotter, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, Stephanie (Jeff) Dardis, Washington, D.C. and great granddaughter Ariana.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wilbur, and her sister Genevieve Anderson. Per her wishes no services will be held at present with private burial at a later date. A reception will follow in heaven. Her body will be cremated by King-Lynk Funeral Home with the Interment in beautiful Sharon cemetery alongside four generations of family.
She was blessed with a long, fulfilling life reflecting her love of God and country and treasured faith, family, and friends.
