Geneva (Goodenberger) Rouse

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Sept. 14, 1926 - March 31, 2016

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Geneva (Goodenberger) Rouse, 89, passed away March 31, 2016.

She was born on Sept. 14, 1926, the fourth of Grace and Bert Goodenberger's eight children in Marion, Neb. After graduation from McCook High School, Geneva worked as a hair stylist and medical assistant. She met her husband, Jim, at a roller skating rink. They were married at the Colorado State University chapel in 1956.

Geneva and Jim moved frequently during the early years of their marriage. Jim worked as a National Park Ranger and Geneva was a hardworking homemaker. Geneva and Jim lived in Rocky Mountain, Sequoia, and Crater Lake National Parks; park headquarters at Theodore Roosevelt and Colorado National Monuments; Washington D.C., Seattle, and Mount Vernon, Washington.

Geneva and Jim enjoyed many local and cross county motorhome trips together. She loved to travel. Her favorite outing was an overnight trip chauffeured by grandson, Trenton, who was practicing driving skills.

Geneva was FUN. She was generous and loved her family, children and animals. Geneva adored her dog buddies and made friends with every cat, bird, squirrel, horse, and alpaca she ever met. Geneva had a great talent for amusing her grandchildren with delightful Play-doh animals and will always be remembered for their silly times together. Geneva was the first to meet grandson Troy's invisible friend, Pat, whom she almost sat upon in the swing seat. Granddaughter Angela and Geneva had the best times together. Whatever the activity, it was kindred spirit fun. In recent years, Geneva appeared as the quintessential "Miss Daisy," wearing her trademark Mary Jane shoes and saucy hats with an endless appetite for all the fun there was to be had in life.

Geneva is dearly missed by daughters Betty Buholts (Randy) of Salem, Ore. and Barbara Barnard (Dale) of Brush Prairie, Wash.; her three treasured grandchildren, Angela Heiser (Michael) of Berlin, Germany, Trenton Barnard and Troy Barnard of Brush Prairie, Wash.; great-grandson, Henry James Heiser; sister, Phyllis Davis (Don); brothers, John (Phyllis) and Phillip (Marilyn) Goodenberger; many nieces and nephews and special friend, Bertha McGhee.

She was preceded in death by devoted husband, James Rouse; sister, Della Warner; brothers, Marvin, Gilbert and Wayne Goodenberger; and parents, Bert and Grace Goodenberger.

Geneva went to be with her husband, Jim, and her canine welcoming committee of beloved doggies on March 31, 2016. A memorial service and internment was at Willamette National Cemetery Portland, Oregon, on April 27, 2016, at 3 p.m.