Tucker, Rose Marie (Edie) 1924 - 2023

TUCKER, EDIE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:25

Rose M. Tucker, age 99, of Cresco, Iowa, died on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at home with her son, Bill, by her side, and the help of dedicated services from the Howard County Community Hospice team. Their help was much appreciated.

A Graveside service is planned for 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 23, 2023, at Evergreen Cemetery, Rudd, Iowa, with Pastor Sue Simmons presiding with Chester’s cremated remains being buried with Rose. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Rose Marie Tucker was the first of 6 children for Josephine and Irwin Edie. She was born January 17, 1924. One day, at breakfast, when she was in her 80s, she broke out in song; “Good Morning to You! Good morning to You! We’re all in our places with bright shiny faces. Have a good day.” This was a song her 1st grade teacher had the class sing at the start of each day. Miss Waterhouse was a long-time teacher at the Rudd Iowa school where Rose’s father was Superintendent of schools, math teacher, physics teacher, basketball referee, and baseball umpire for 28 years. Irwin also taught math at Crestwood before retiring. Rose played clarinet in the Rudd band for 5 years from 8th grade through her senior year. Rose and three other gals in her band won the clarinet quartet competition at State in 1941. Rose went to Upper Iowa University for one year. She then transferred to Iowa State University and received her degree in Home Economics.

She worked for the Heinz Company in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for a short time inspecting ketchup for spoilage. She got a skin infection and returned home to Iowa. Later in New York while stuffing envelopes at a settlement house which welcomed and helped new people to America, she met Chester Tucker Jr., and they were married on August 7, 1948. Rose’s mother was also new to America from Norway. Rose’s husband, Chester, was a professional church organist and choir director. The couple moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where Rose taught Home Economics.

Then it was on to Chicago; where Rose gave birth to her only child, a boy named William in 1949. The doctor’s bill was $90.00 and four days in the hospital was $100. Rose worked at a nursery school and then her son came down with polio. Rose took Bill back to Iowa to see her hometown doctor in Rudd. He recommended Bill be taken to the hospital in Iowa City. After a short stay at the University of Iowa hospital the family returned to Chicago; where Rose got a job as a Home Economics Teacher at Carl Schurz High School in Chicago.

By 1962, her weight was down to 99 pounds, and she suffered what was called nervous exhaustion. Unfortunately, she got in the hands of psychiatrists who treated her with psych drugs and insulin shock therapy; which is no longer used because of the devastating effects it can cause. She endured 7 “treatments”. Rose tried to get her job back, but the principal would not hire her back stating she was still so thin and he was afraid her nervous exhaustion would happen again.

Rose took a job at a nearby company, The Northern Golf Company, where they made driving range ball dispensers and nets. Her mind could no longer focus on the task at hand, so she was put on permanent disability. The look of humiliation in her eyes when she came back from being fired was devastating. She never had another job after that.

Rose preferred living in Iowa and when Chester retired, they moved to Cresco. Rose once said, “I am just a country girl.” Her husband died in 2015 and her son cared for her until her death on October 19. The day of Rose’s death, Cathy Hoffert from hospice came over to the house to share her musical therapy. Cathy sang “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You” which was the last song she had sung with Chester while he played the piano. After thanking Cathy for coming over and her leaving, Rose breathed her last breath.

She is survived by her son William “Bill” Tucker of Cresco and 10 nieces and nephews.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, husband Chester, and brothers and sisters.

Rose supported the “Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights”, a watchdog organization over Psychiatry, their drugs, and treatments. Learn about it at www.cchrint.org or www.fightforkids.org. Make a donation in Rose’s memory if you support what they do, it’s tax deductible.

Source: Hindt Funeral Home database