Bolser, Rose 1912-2013

BOLSER, LONG, SMITH

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/16/2017 at 19:53:02

Le Mars, Iowa – Longtime Le Mars citizen, Rose Bolser, 100, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, March 23, 2013 at home with her daughter in Denver Colorado, following a brief hospital stay.

Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars. Rev. Janis Christensen will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral on Wednesday.

Rose Long was born to John Franklin and Dora Mae (Smith) Long in Struble, Iowa on June 21, 1912, the longest day of the year according to her mother. She was born in the family house that had been moved from the farm outside of Struble just a year before. She was the seventh of nine children, all of whom have preceded her in death.

Rose attended the two-room Struble school through the 8th grade. She then roomed with the Traufler family in Le Mars, providing child care and housekeeping for her room and board so she could attend high school. She took secretarial courses, winning a regional shorthand contest held at Sioux City Central HS, and graduated from Le Mars High School in 1929.

Rose’s long business career began in the 1930’s when she started working for Clark Bolser of Le Mars who was designing and manufacturing truck safety equipment. She moved to Des Moines, and later to Cedar Falls, Iowa to help Clark manage the business. Clark and Rose married in Cedar Falls where they raised two children and manufactured truck safety equipment until Clark’s death in 1960. Two years later, Rose sold the business, married Clark’s brother Norman Bolser, and returned to Le Mars. Rose worked with Norman in the Le Mars Savings and Loan Association, until Norman’s death, and later with his son and successor W. G. “Bud” Bolser. After retiring from the Savings and Loan, Rose sold real estate with Harold Ruden for several years.

Always one to remain active after full retirement, Rose continued as a volunteer preparing free income tax returns and served on the Board of Zoning. Her fondest contributions were developing the Little League organization and the Work Activities Center, and spending many years working with junior high youth groups at her church. Acknowledged for her many contributions to the community, she was awarded the Citizen of the Year in 1986, and the Service to Mankind Award from Sertoma.

Rose put her volunteer efforts to many areas: Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary, Le Mars Business and Professional Women, chapter AO of T.T.T., and Beta Sigma Phi. She served on the Plymouth County Board of Realtors, the Westmar Eager Eagles, care review committees at the Abbey and the then Plymouth County Home, the Le Mars Arts Council and Meals-on-Wheels. She also served on the Homecoming ’86 committee, a celebration that evolved into the Ice Cream Days.

Rose always enjoyed a good card game. In the years living in Cedar Falls, every Friday evening her best friends would arrive to play canasta. While living in Le Mars, Rose enjoyed the pinochle marathon, and several bridge clubs. Besides playing cards, Rose had a passion for crossword and Sudoku puzzles. She also had an amazing memory of old songs and rhymes which she taught her grandchildren and the caregivers who spent time with her as her life’s journey was ending.

She enjoyed a long life of 100 years and nine months. Leaving her home in Le Mars in November, 2010, Rose lived the last years of her life with her daughter and near her son and grandchildren. What a gift for her family to have her close with them, sharing her humor, playing cards and singing old-time songs.

She is survived by her son, Clark Bolser of Thornton Colorado; daughter, Ellen Yu of Denver, Colorado; and three grandchildren, Nathan Yu of Portland, Oregon, Nancy Yu of Los Angeles, California, Jennifer Bolser and husband Dietmar Grimm of Boulder, Colorado, and great-granddaughter Yasmin Melara of Los Angeles, California.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers; and four sisters.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Life Skills Training Center in Le Mars, an organization that was close to Rose’s heart.

Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home
Le Mars, IA