The world lost a creative and beautiful soul on May 22, 2025, when Roma Leone Adair Michel—artist, mother, grandmother, and friend—passed away peacefully at the age of 88 years old, at Evans Memorial Home with her loving family by her side.
Roma was born on a hot summer day, August 14, 1936, in Waverly, Iowa, to Marian (Bowen) and Forest Adair. She grew up in Shell Rock, Iowa, alongside her younger brother, Terry, in a town deeply connected to her family’s history—her great-great-grandfather, George Washington Adair, founded Shell Rock in 1855 and built its historic mill, which still stands today.
Roma was crowned Miss Shell Rock in 1954, but long before that, she was active and musical—skating on frozen rivers, playing the clarinet, and exploring the woods. She graduated high school with honors, played basketball on the newly formed team, and edited the school newspaper.
After high school, life took Roma on a winding journey—marriages, children, moves, and motherhood. She married Rollis Schutte and raised Laurie, twins Robert and Rollis, and Rick with unwavering love and resilience. In 1974, in Reinbeck, Iowa, someone mentioned that there was land near Bluffton, Iowa, and this one moment changed the rest of her life. That same year, she moved with her children into the “stone house” in the valley by Chimney Rock, and that summer she painted a landscape of the home and later won first place at an art contest in Waterloo. In 1981 she purchased nearby land along the Upper Iowa River, where she would live for nearly 45 years. Tragically, in 1980 her son Rollis was killed in a motorcycle accident. She joined the Catholic Church and grew in her faith.
Roma briefly worked as a trained dental assistant and occasionally at the Decorah Sale Barn, but her lifelong love and profession — was being an artist. A gifted painter, teacher, and dreamer, she brought color to the world. She taught private lessons in Iowa and Minnesota, never missed “Paint til we faint”, and participated in countless art shows. In 1986 she married her beloved husband Leonard and they started framing art on their kitchen table which led to her opening the Chimney Rock Art Gallery and Frame Shop in Burr Oak’s one-room schoolhouse where she made space for featuring local artists. Roma served as president of the Iowa Artists Association. She was known for her striking oil paintings of barns, people, buildings, and the bridges and rivers she loved. Her treasured paintings were Chimney Rock in Winter Moonlight, Violins, and Killy Picking Flowers. After Leonard’s passing from cancer in 1995, Roma married George Michel in 1998; he passed away in 2018.
Roma’s adventurous spirit showed through her art and many ways throughout her life. At 61, she learned to play the violin and performed in nursing homes and churches. She also sang in the Ladies Choir and found joy in sharing music with others. A gifted gardener, she grew vibrant flowers and vegetables, and her home was filled with plants that stretched toward the ceiling. Roma developed a lifelong love of horses and she raised several over the years—including Trigger and Spook—and she loved going on trail rides and attending horse shows with her children. Her bold curiosity also led her to participate in a deep cave dive at Cold Water Cave, descending over 100 feet underground—an experience she often recalled with wonder. Nature was her constant companion. The Upper Iowa River, just steps from her home, became one of her favorite places, and she never tired of the view of Chimney Rock—a landscape she lived beside, painted often, and held close to her heart. Roma cherished time with her family and friends—hosting bonfires, painting pumpkins, canoeing and kayaking the Upper and time in her many gardens of flowers and vegetables. She also had a deep love for all animals and cared for many cats and her beloved dogs: Tuffy, Haley, Abby, Bella, and Susie.
Roma is survived by her children: Laurie Nordstrom, Bob (Lori) Schutte, and Rick (Becky) Schutte; six grandchildren: Heather, Melissa, Rachel, Sarah, Ryan, and Jesse; eleven great-grandchildren: Garrett, Gage, Brady, Kjersten, Jace, Danica, Derek, Hayley, Nora, Ezra, Zeke, and Ozzy; and one great-great-grandchild on the way.
She is preceded in death by her beloved son Rollis; her brother Terry Adair; her parents Forest and Marion Adair; and her husbands Rollis Schutte, Leonard O’Brien, and George Michel.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Mabel Community Center from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., with lunch served. A brief service begins at 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to Howard County Hospice, 327 8th Ave W, Cresco, IA 52136 or ArtHaus,107 W Broadway St, Decorah, IA 52101
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