Rose Marie Smith of rural Postville died peacefully at home on February 12, 2017. Mrs. Smith was born on March 13, 1923 to Harold and Claire Brewer of Postville. She was raised on their family farm, graduated from Postville High School and briefly taught in country school.
She was married to Keith Smith on June 15, 1944 and lived on their farm for the rest of her life. Rose loved horses and kept donkeys on the farm in her later years. She also loved cats and lots of cats found their home on the farm. LOTS of cats! She was the proprietary manager and operator of the parlor where she milked their herd of Brown Swiss cows. When the time came to stop the dairy operation, the Smiths converted to raising beef cows.
Rose Marie was survived by son, Phillip; daughters Virginia and Michelle, twelve grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and thirteen nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband of seventy years, Keith; son, Bruce; daughter, Connie (Gordon) Gelo; grandson, Rhett Gelo; parents, Harold and Claire Brewer; sister, Mildred (Harold) Trappe; brother, Raymond Brewer; brother, Lavern Brewer; brother-in-law, Harold Trappe; sister-in-law, Helen Brewer; niece, Linda (Don) Smith, and grand-niece, Brenda Krambeer.
A private family graveside service will be at 2:30 pm on Friday, February 24, 2017 at the Postville Cemetery, Postville, Iowa followed by a Celebration of Life Memorial at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, Postville, Iowa. All are invited to the memorial service at 3:00 pm. Refreshments will be offered.
Memorials will be directed to hospice charity in this area.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements.