Rose Oswald

MONTICELLO, IOWA Rose Marie Oswald, 91, of Monticello passed away Monday, April 29, 2019, at Monticello Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 pm Thursday, May 2, 2019, at Kramer Funeral Home in Monticello where a Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 3:45 pm. Visitation will continue from 10 – 11 am Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church prior to funeral services. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 3, 2019, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Paul Baldwin will officiate. Rose was born November 28, 1927, in Cascade, Iowa the daughter of Joseph and Mary Anna (Koob) Merfeld. She married Earl G. Oswald on September 6, 1951, in Cascade. Together they farmed in the Monticello area and later moved to the family farm in 1970. She worked hard at gardening as she raised her family. She also worked in the medical field in various positions for over 60 years. She was active politically as a member of the Democratic Party, and she enjoyed playing cards, Bingo, and visiting. Survivors include 6 sons: Don (Nancy) Oswald of Earlville, James, Leon, Dean (Lisa), Paul (Julie) and Ed Oswald, all of Monticello; 4 daughters: Ann (William) Buckner of Monticello, Janet Fischer of Oneida, Betty Bagley of Mercer, MO, and Joan (Barney) Dirks of Anamosa; a son-in-law, Joe Nosek of Cedar Rapids; 28 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren; siblings: Joseph Merfeld of Cascade, Louis (Gladys) Merfeld of Dubuque, Ann Gudenkauf of Manchester, Theresa Drew of Cascade, Allan (Bev) Merfeld of Rockford, IL; in-laws: Cheryl Merfeld of Rockford, IL, Gerry Merfeld of Benton Harbor, MI, and Kathleen Hunt of Hopkinton and AnnaBelle Oswald of Monticello. Rose was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Earl in 2001, a daughter, Lois Nosek, a son-in-law, John Bagley, a great grandson, Samuel Boehm; siblings: Carl (Peg) Merfeld, Francis and Robert Merfeld, Mary Margaret (Larry) Ahlers; in-laws: Dode Merfeld, Gerald Gudenkauf, Ralph Drew, Lloyd Oswald, Mary (Harold) Schneiter, Patricia (William) McDonell and Bob Hunt.