Memorial services for Maggie Irene Rose, 97, who passed away on January 13, 2013, will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Lawrence, on Tuesday, January 22 at 2 p.m.
Irene was born July 21, 1915, in rural Cowley County, Kansas, the second of three children of Frank F. Vollweider and Nellie Parker Vollweider. She was the granddaughter of Civil War veteran James Marion Parker, 7th Indiana Cavalry, and Jacob Friedrich Vollweider, who immigrated from Baden, Germany, in 1883; both grandfathers were Kansas farmers. Mrs. Rose attended Kellog rural school, Winfield High School, Southwestern College in Winfield, and Kansas State University. She received a B.A. in Education from the University of Kansas in 1960. Before her marriage, she taught for two years in a one-room rural schoolhouse in Cowley County, and later at McAllister School in Lawrence.
Irene married Kenneth E. Rose of Winfield on October 21, 1939. Ken and Irene were both valedictorians of their 1933 graduating class at Winfield High School and each received the American Legion citizenship award that year. They lived in Peoria, Illinois; Buffalo, and Ithaca, New York; Columbus, Ohio, and Norman Oklahoma, before settling in Lawrence in 1947, where Ken was a professor of engineering at the University of Kansas. They also lived for three years in Lima, Peru. Over the years they traveled to all 50 states and 31 foreign countries, especially enjoying the years after Ken’s retirement. After Kenneth’s death in October, 1994, Irene remained active and independent, living in her own home until her last few days. She was an avid reader, kept up with the news and KU basketball, and followed with great interest and affection the lives of family and friends.
Irene was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Zodiac Club, the University Women’s Club, Spanish Play Readers, the KU Alumni Association, and the Paul Endacott Society. She volunteered for various organizations including the Spencer Art Museum, Meals on Wheels, Audio Readers, and Watkins Historical Museum.
She is survived by a son, Frederick A. Rose and wife Mary Ellen of Overland Park, and a daughter, Carol C. Rose and husband Scott Campbell of Lawrence; grandchildren Alan Rose of Overland Park, Charles Rose of Boston, Massachusetts, Amanda Rose Miller of Olathe, Hernan Lopez and wife Adriana of San Diego, California, and Roberto Lopez and wife Jean Yancey of Panama City, Panama; and five great-grandchildren–Marlee Miller, Sebastian and Sofia Lopez, and Isley and Eva Lopez. Among the many who will miss her are several former KU international students whom she “adopted” and have stayed in touch with her for over 40 years.
Private interment will be at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Cowley County, Vernon Township on Saturday, January 19.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Friends of Hidden Valley, Inc., or Kansas Advocates for Better Care, sent in care of the funeral home.
