Israel Roseburr, Sr.

Obituary Mr. Israel Roseburr, Sr., was born in Cleveland, Arkansas, to the union of the late Ulysses and Libby Byers Roseburr. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Ernest McClunie, George McClunie, and “C.W.” Roseburr, his sister, Marcella Josie McClunie Gentry, sister-in-law, Elnora Canady McClunie and brother-in-law, Calvin Gentry. Israel received his childhood education at Liberty Springs Grade School in Cleveland, Arkansas and attended Center High School. His first job was working with a construction company in the Arkansas area. His experience with the construction company enabled him to help build the Jones Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Conway, Arkansas. In 1947, Israel moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked at the Art Bakery, Wonder and Manor Bakery for seven years. Israel then worked at the Railroad’s Round House before going to General Motors for fifteen years, and he retired in 1992, from American Hospital Supply Company in North Kansas City, after twenty-five years of service. There he started as a Shipping Clerk and later surveyed other companies to base employee salaries. During this time, he married the love of his life, Mrs. Mary Etta Moore Roseburr on July 29, 1950, and to this union they were blessed with four children: Georgia Faye Rainey, Sylvester “Bean” Roseburr, Israel “Isie Bud” Roseburr, Jr., and Angela Renee Roseburr. They shared a love that expanded sixty-seven (67) years of love, faith, commitment to God, one another, family and service to others. Israel’s Christian experience began at Moore’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Cleveland, Arkansas where he was baptized as an infant and professed his hope in Christ at an early age. When he moved to Kansas City, Missouri he transferred his membership to Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in 1948, where he remained a faithful and loyal member, until the time of his homegoing. Never one to sit idly by, Israel was a member of the Junior Choir and Junior Usher Board, as a young child. He continued to serve within the Metropolitan church family as a Steward Trainee before becoming a Steward, then the Preacher Steward. He served as a Class Leader, Leader of Leaders, Trainer for Stewards and Class Leaders, Sunday School Teacher, and assisted the Pastor in teaching the New Member’s Class for seventeen years. ?Israel was appointed Church Treasurer on June 26, 1983 and served for many years in this capacity. He also served as the General Claims and Ministry of Kindness Treasurer and served on the Building Program. He was a visionary and had a vision for the Finance Board on investing and saving money, which was a very successful program for Metropolitan. Israel was the driving force in starting the Feeding Program at Metropolitan in 1975, which is now known as the Sharing and Caring Program. The program has grown through the years and they now feed the community weekly. He served as the local Lay Council President for twelve years. His passion for the laity led him to be recommended to serve as the Missouri Annual Conference’s President of the Lay Council. A position he held and served well also for twelve (12) years, traveling throughout the Conference and attending the Connectional meeting. He was also a member of the Minister and Lay Association of the A.M.E. Zion Church. Israel was a positive force, blessed with wisdom and knowledge and he did not mind sitting and sharing his thoughts on major issues affecting the community and his church. Israel was a Gold Card Member and Past Master of Coles-Finch Lodge #186. In the 1960’s he marched and protested with several ministers in the area to get Blacks jobs. He was a part of the Council of United Action, “CUA”. They demonstrated at places like Emery Berg, Kroger’s, Osco Drugs and Safeway Stores. He marched alongside Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., against Safeway Stores. He has served as Assistant Director of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association, he had taken a ten-week course at the Kansas City Police Academy and associated with C.A.N., which is the Community Police Officers, and he served as the President of the 40th Bales Block Club. Israel served on the board of the Palestine Neighborhood Association and the list could go on and on, because he believed in giving back to the community and Israel served well within the Kansas City Area. Israel Roseburr, Sr. leaves to cherish his precious memory, his loving and devoted wife of sixty-even years, Mary Etta Moore Roseburr of the home; two sons, Sylvester “Bean” Roseburr (Joyce) of Kansas City, Missouri and Israel “Isie Bud” Roseburr, Jr. (Cathy) of Nolensville, Tennessee; two daughters, Georgia Faye Rainey and Angela Renee’ Roseburr Ross of Kansas City, Missouri; five grandchildren: Marcia “Sweetie” Rainey of Little Rock, Arkansas; Clayton “Punchie” Rainey of Morrilton, Arkansas; Damon Ross, Sr., of Kansas City, Missouri, Tiffany and Rodney Roseburr of Nolensville, Tennessee; four great-grandchildren: Damon “Dada” Ross, Jr., of Kansas City, Missouri, Taylor “Tay-Tay” and Tahj Roseburr of Nolensville, Tennessee; and Daja Ross of Kansas City, Missouri; two goddaughters, Marla Sandifer and Yolanda Wyatt; special grandchildren: The Wyatt children; four sisters-in-law: Mary C. Roseburr and Loyse McClunie of the city; Gloria Dean Johnson of Kansas City, Kansas and Denise Renee Moore Brown (Greg) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; first cousin, Judy Williams (Steven) of Bratenahl, Ohio; one special cousin of the original family name, Mary Roseburrow of the city; a host of special nieces and nephews and a host of cousins too numerous to mention but not forgotten. To God be the glory for the legacy he has left behind! Funeral Service for Israel Roseburr, Sr. will be held Monday, January 29, 11:00 a.m. at Metropolitan AME Zion Church, 2828 Prospect Ave. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Masonic Service will be from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Interment, Forest Hill Cemetery. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Israel Roseburr, Sr., please visit our floral store. Read More

Israel Roseburr, Sr.

April 29, 1930 - January 19, 2018