McKenna, Rosamond (1927-2015)
MCKENNA, SCRIBER, SCHWEICKHARDT
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/14/2016 at 10:27:54
Rosamond McKenna
November 28, 1927 - December 26, 2015Rosamond ‘Ros’ McKenna, age 88, of Savoy, Illinois, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2015, surrounded by her husband of sixty-five years and her children.
Ros, also known as Kay, was born on November 28, 1927, in Schaller, Iowa, to Rose and Joe Scriber. She grew up in rural Iowa, graduating from Galva High School. In 1948, she completed a nursing degree at Mercy College of Nursing.
While in the eighth grade, Ros met Donald Joseph McKenna, a freshman at Sacred Heart High School, but they drifted apart. Then, they met again in 1948 at the Cobblestone Inn in Storm Lake, Iowa. Now 19, Kay was relocating to California where she intended to practice her nursing skills. Don had just completed an Army tour of duty in Korea and had returned home. The two continued to correspond, and after Kay returned to Iowa, they became engaged at Christmas, 1949. They married on June 24, 1950, in Schaller, Iowa. Then, after they returned home from their honeymoon, they found Don’s acceptance letter into the School of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. Kay continued working as a nurse in Ames, Iowa, for several years while Don attended school and they started their family.
Although they lost one daughter, Martha, in infancy, Don and Kay were blessed with five healthy children: Marilyn (Basil) McKenna, of Chicago, Illinois, Marie McKenna, also of Chicago, Illinois, Monica McKenna, of Middlebury, Vermont, Mary Jo (Kevin) Schweickhardt, of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Mark McKenna of Flagstaff, Arizona. In time, she would, also, have two grandchildren, Samantha (21) and Carson (19) Schweickhardt.
After he graduated from veterinary school, Don and Kay settled in Mallard, Iowa, where Kay helped Don with his veterinary practice. Then, after Don joined a partnership practice, they relocated to Cascade, Iowa, in 1966. Kay became a 4-H leader and played an active role in the school system and in their church. In 1975, Kay returned to school, starting at Clarke College and completing her degree in Psychology with a teaching certificate at Loras College in 1978. She taught Montessori preschool for many years before she and Don relocated to the Champaign-Urbana area in 1986, settling in Savoy, Illinois. Don had accepted a teaching position at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois where he remained until he retired in 1992.
A lifelong learner as well as an avid fan of public television and NPR, Ros continued to take classes at Parkland Community College and through the OLLIE network at the University of Illinois. To that end, she filled their home with books and passed on her creative abilities along with her love of reading and learning to her children.
Believing parents have a responsibility to give children both roots and wings, she gave us her deep love and support and encouraged us to be brave, independent thinkers. She believed in chores, homework, and giving back to the community. She was always in motion but would stop whatever she was doing to listen to us when we needed her. Watching her navigate the joys and challenges of life, we witnessed her resilience and capacity to care for those around her.
Because of her prodigious desire to help others in need, Ros was selected as a United Way Volunteer of the Year for her work at A Woman’s Place, a shelter for women and children in transition. A regular at Habitat for Humanity, the Stevick Senior Center, the Parkinson’s Support Group, book clubs, and many other community oriented clubs, she enjoyed assisting her many friends in countless ways including frequenting yard sales to find the perfect item to help someone in need. Active in women’s issues her entire life, she held memberships in NOW and several other advocacy groups. In addition, she loved nature and art, working with Don to create showplace flower gardens and filling their home with art.
Ros is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Ray (Leota) Schriber, Romaine (Dorothy) Schriber, and Bob (Joyce) Schriber.
A Celebration of the Life of Rosamond, Ros/Kay, McKenna will be held Saturday May 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home, 1615 W Milwaukee Ave, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588. All are welcome to attend.
Memorial Contributions:
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be directed to Habitat for Humanity, Champaign County Parkinson’s Support Group, or Courage Connection (previously known as A Women’s Place.)
Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County
Contact Kelly Hill, Development Director: (217)355-6460Champaign County Parkinson's Support Group
Please mail checks to: 1007 Page Dr., C/O Charles Rohn, Champaign, Illinois 61821Courage Connection www.courageconnection.org
Donate online at: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/mckenna_memorial
Copyright © 2016, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes
Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen