Rosemary (Ritland) Low (1937-2016)

LOW, RITLAND, ADAMS, MIDOUN, WILLIG, SHIELDS, SONNENSCHEIN, PRESSLER, CLOUSE

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/30/2016 at 14:08:38

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Rosemary (Ritland) Low was born into a wonderfully loving family on May 10, 1937, the daughter of Everett G. and Bette Ritland in Ames Iowa. Growing up, Rosemary enjoyed sports, swimming, piano playing and being with friends. In her teenage years, she worked in the summers detasseling corn to earn money for school clothes. She graduated from Ames High School in 1955, and went on to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa for one year. Rosemary also attended the University of Hawaii for a semester before returning to Ames. While working as a mathematical secretary at Iowa State University, she met her future husband, Roger Low, who was working on his PhD at the time. They married in 1958 and moved to Ann Arbor where they began their careers - he as a university professor and she as a homemaker.

Rosemary was active in the University of Michigan Faculty Women's Club, had a wonderful circle of loyal friends in Ann Arbor, and maintained contact with her Ames High Class of 1955 throughout her life. An outgoing "people-person", Rosemary was quick to embrace trips to visit family and friends throughout the country, sometimes driving on her own across the U.S. to attend gatherings. Her primary role and focus was that of a homemaker, loving mother, and wife. She always put her family first and was a wonderful, compassionate and cheerful mother. She was selfless and giving throughout her life.

Rosemary was responsible for the family's opportunities to live abroad-- Roger taking sabbaticals in 1969 and 1976, where he brought the family to live in England for 6 months each time while conducting research. In 1980, Roger received the opportunity to be a visiting professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Rosemary encouraged Roger to take these opportunities -- as he was content to stay home. He later told her these were the most wonderful experiences of his life. And that held true for the rest of the family as well.

Tragically, in 1983 Roger died of cancer at the age of 52. Widowed at 46, Rosemary sought to start over by moving to Colorado where she opened a small gift shop in Manitou Springs. Her giving and generous nature did not lend itself well to the business world, but by running a gift shot she fulfilled an ambition she had always had. It was a great experience living in Colorado again. There she made some meaningful friendships that she maintained throughout her life.

The death of Roger brought the small family closer. She was very integrated into her daughters lives and was always unconditionally supportive and ready to help in any way. She was instrumental in raising the family's two beloved Akitas: Malachi and Mikimoto. A life-long animal lover, she enjoyed cooking treats for them. As time went on this evolved into their normal meals, which they came to expect. She spoiled the dogs and gave them wonderful lives.

In 1990, she returned to Ann Arbor to be closer to her daughters. As time went on, she worked as a sorority house director in Ann Arbor, Ames and Boulder, Colo., enjoying being around young people and running the houses.

In her later years, Rosemary traveled with friends and family - taking memorable trips to Norway, Italy, Hawaii, New Orleans, Lake Tahoe, and other places. Each year she spent the month of August at the family's beloved Kelly Lake, Wisc. cottage--this was one of the great pleasures of her life. Those who knew Rosemary well believe she possessed the "happy gene". Even an empty glass was full in her eyes. Throughout her life, she found joy in the simplest of things and found a way to make the best of any situation. Eternally optimistic with a strong faith in God, she faced her ALS diagnosis calmly, with courage and humor, finding joy visiting with friends in the nursing home, watching movies on DVD's, and following Michigan football and basketball.

Rosemary passed away peacefully at 78 years of age on March 9, 2016 at Saline Evangelical Home in Saline, Mich., after a courageous and dignified battle with ALS.

Rosemary is survived by two daughters, Victoria A. Adams of Ann Arbor and Erika K. Low of Ann Arbor; her grandchildren, Djamal Midoun of Ann Arbor, Miriam Midoun of Providence, R.I., Alia Midoun of Chicago, Ill. and Sarah Midoun of Chicago; her brothers, Michael (Dori) Ritland of Eau Claire, Wisc. and Mark Ritland of Ames; her brother-in-law, Louis Willig of Philadelphia, Pa., her sister-in-law Anne (Ken) Shields of Aurora Ill.; five nephews, Craig Sonnenschein of Chicago, Eric Sonnenschein of Washington DC, Burton Shields of Los Angeles, Calif., Mark Shields of Los Angeles and Greg Shields of Newfield, N.J.; three nieces, Mara Sonnenschein of New York City, N.Y., Kristin Ritland-Pressler of Eau Claire and Katherine (Katie) Ritland-Clouse of Eau Claire; and her dog, Mikimoto.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Patricia Ritland Sonnenschein Willig of Philadelphia, Pa.; and her husband of 25 years, Roger Dean Low of Ann Arbor.

As we grieve the loss of Rosemary, we are reminded to thank God for her life and that we had her in ours for all these years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support the Program for Neurology Research & Discovery. Checks may be made to "University of Michigan" and sent to Medical Development, 1000 Oakbrook, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. You may also call 734-764-6777 or visit the website http://victors.us/rosemarylow to make a gift.

The family wishes to extends its profound gratitude to Saline Evangelical Home and Arbor Hospice for the tender and compassionate care they provided during her illness.

Celebration of Life
MAY 14. 10:30 AM
Ascension Lutheran Church
2400 Bloomington Rd
Ames, IA, US, 50010

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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