1922
John
2019
John F. Rose
November 30, 1922 — December 27, 2019
John Frank Rose, 97, of Underwood, passed away quietly Friday, December 27, 2019. A nine-month resident of the Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, John finally succumbed to end-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Born in Minot, North Dakota, on November, 30, 1922, to Frank Sylvester Rose and Elizabeth (Oswald) Rose, the fourth of five children, John lived most of his young life in Minneapolis. He was an active member of 4-H in his teens and often showed chickens at the Minnesota State Fair. He graduated from North High School in 1940.
A few days after Pearl Harbor, John enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard (1941-46) where he rose to the rank of bosun-mate in charge of a crew and an 83-foot Coast Guard Cutter. He was stationed on Fire Island just outside of New York Harbor for most of the war. Near the end of World War II, his crew and cutter were transported (via Panama Canal) to San Diego, California, where they “directed traffic” for the homecoming of the entire U.S. Pacific Naval Fleet. Often moored 27 deep waiting to offload their weary, yet joyous cargo, John remembered, “Those were glorious days!”
On June 6, 1944, John married Elsbeth Wassermann, at St. Petri Lutheran Church in north Minneapolis. Together they had four children: Elizabeth, Robert, Holly and Robin, and were married for 62 years. While Elsbeth was a homemaker, John attended night classes at the University of Minnesota to become a mechanical engineer and worked as such for over 30 years. He obtained several patents for designing/manufacturing hearing aids for Maico Hearing Co. in Minneapolis and while working for Proximity Control in Fergus Falls.
After moving to their “hobby farm” in Underwood in 1973, John raised registered polled herford’s for many years. Eventually, turning the entire farm into a registered tree farm, he (with the help of many friends and family) planted over 3,000 trees.
An avid hunter, fisherman, sportsman and conservationist throughout his entire life, John enjoyed hunting and fishing on North Turtle Lake with his brothers and family members. He taught his four children how to swim, skate, ski, fish and plant trees, and especially supported conservation programs for the young; feeling strongly that if we teach the younger generation how to care for our world, they will. John served several years as president of the Robbinsdale Sportsmen’s Club where he taught firearm safety classes in his home, helped organize local trap shoots, and participated in many area tree plantings. He served as treasurer of the Minnesota Conservation Federation where he worked closely with the then governor, Rudy Perpich, helping dispense conservation educational funds throughout the state. He was an active member of the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club, serving as president for four years. He was instrumental in establishing the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, was a member of the Friends of the Prairie, and occasionally wrote conservation articles for the Fergus Falls newspaper.
A member of Sverdrup Lutheran Church of Underwood, John helped design and build the new church in 1997, served on the church council, and enjoyed the fellowship of the Monday Morning Men’s Cleaning Crew.
Preceding him in death are his parents, his wife, Elsbeth, sister, Caroline, and brothers, Don, George and Bill. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth “Betsy” Miller of Underwood, Dr. Robert Rose of New Hampshire, Holly Rose of Minneapolis, and Robin (Craig) Lindberg of Ely; grandchildren, Kori, Christopher, Abe, Liz, Kathleen, Sam, Anya, Brie, Ketti and JohnLars; and great-grandchildren, Caroline, Colin, Finn, Nia, Will Devon and Arianna, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 18, 2020, at Sverdrup Lutheran Church in Underwood with the Rev. Doug Stave officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials or donations be directed to the Friends of the Prairie at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center or to Lutheran Brotherhood Hospice Care, both located in Fergus Falls.
Blessed be the memory of John F. Rose.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com
Born in Minot, North Dakota, on November, 30, 1922, to Frank Sylvester Rose and Elizabeth (Oswald) Rose, the fourth of five children, John lived most of his young life in Minneapolis. He was an active member of 4-H in his teens and often showed chickens at the Minnesota State Fair. He graduated from North High School in 1940.
A few days after Pearl Harbor, John enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard (1941-46) where he rose to the rank of bosun-mate in charge of a crew and an 83-foot Coast Guard Cutter. He was stationed on Fire Island just outside of New York Harbor for most of the war. Near the end of World War II, his crew and cutter were transported (via Panama Canal) to San Diego, California, where they “directed traffic” for the homecoming of the entire U.S. Pacific Naval Fleet. Often moored 27 deep waiting to offload their weary, yet joyous cargo, John remembered, “Those were glorious days!”
On June 6, 1944, John married Elsbeth Wassermann, at St. Petri Lutheran Church in north Minneapolis. Together they had four children: Elizabeth, Robert, Holly and Robin, and were married for 62 years. While Elsbeth was a homemaker, John attended night classes at the University of Minnesota to become a mechanical engineer and worked as such for over 30 years. He obtained several patents for designing/manufacturing hearing aids for Maico Hearing Co. in Minneapolis and while working for Proximity Control in Fergus Falls.
After moving to their “hobby farm” in Underwood in 1973, John raised registered polled herford’s for many years. Eventually, turning the entire farm into a registered tree farm, he (with the help of many friends and family) planted over 3,000 trees.
An avid hunter, fisherman, sportsman and conservationist throughout his entire life, John enjoyed hunting and fishing on North Turtle Lake with his brothers and family members. He taught his four children how to swim, skate, ski, fish and plant trees, and especially supported conservation programs for the young; feeling strongly that if we teach the younger generation how to care for our world, they will. John served several years as president of the Robbinsdale Sportsmen’s Club where he taught firearm safety classes in his home, helped organize local trap shoots, and participated in many area tree plantings. He served as treasurer of the Minnesota Conservation Federation where he worked closely with the then governor, Rudy Perpich, helping dispense conservation educational funds throughout the state. He was an active member of the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club, serving as president for four years. He was instrumental in establishing the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, was a member of the Friends of the Prairie, and occasionally wrote conservation articles for the Fergus Falls newspaper.
A member of Sverdrup Lutheran Church of Underwood, John helped design and build the new church in 1997, served on the church council, and enjoyed the fellowship of the Monday Morning Men’s Cleaning Crew.
Preceding him in death are his parents, his wife, Elsbeth, sister, Caroline, and brothers, Don, George and Bill. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth “Betsy” Miller of Underwood, Dr. Robert Rose of New Hampshire, Holly Rose of Minneapolis, and Robin (Craig) Lindberg of Ely; grandchildren, Kori, Christopher, Abe, Liz, Kathleen, Sam, Anya, Brie, Ketti and JohnLars; and great-grandchildren, Caroline, Colin, Finn, Nia, Will Devon and Arianna, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 18, 2020, at Sverdrup Lutheran Church in Underwood with the Rev. Doug Stave officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials or donations be directed to the Friends of the Prairie at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center or to Lutheran Brotherhood Hospice Care, both located in Fergus Falls.
Blessed be the memory of John F. Rose.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John F. Rose, please visit our flower store.
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Friday, January 18, 2019
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