In Memory of Rosella "Rose" Maxine Franzkowiak

Rosella “Rose” Maxine Franzkowiak, age 95, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Friday, August 18, 2017, at Eventide of Denison, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 25, 2017, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Rev. Richard A. Salcido will officiate; with Committal Services following in the Schaller Cemetery of Schaller, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday August 24, 2017, at the Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

On a beautiful spring day in 1922, a very pregnant Katherine Sharkey was taking a walk. As she observed the wild roses alongside her path she knew what she would name her child if blessed with a daughter. On Saturday, June 3, 1922, in rural Danbury, Iowa, a baby girl was born to James and Katherine (Redenius) Sharkey. She was the tenth child of eleven children and was given the name Rosella Maxine. Rose was baptized into the Lutheran faith and grew up in the Danbury and Anthon area attending country school.

She married Eugene Crum. To this union two sets of twins were born. They later divorced. On October 12, 1952, she married Frank Franzkowiak. They lived near Arthur then moved to their farm southwest of Schaller in 1956. They were blessed with three children. In 1974, they moved south of Galva before retiring to Ida Grove in 1987. Rose continued to live there until her mobility forced her to move to assisted living in 2013. The final month of her life was spent at Eventide in Denison, IA. The last surviving member of the James Sharkey family entered into heaven on August 18, 2017. She lived to be the oldest of the entire family attaining the age of 95 years, 2 months and 15 days.

Rose enjoyed country living. She was a hardworking farm wife helping with the farm chores, raising chickens and gardening. She enjoyed neighborhood parties and family activities. There was always time for coffee and playing with the grandchildren. Frank and Rose took many trips to various states and visited the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Rose enjoyed music her entire life and was an avid doll collector.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Roslyn “Dolly” (Urban) Tripp of Denison, IA, Stanley (friend Linda) Crum of Holstein, IA, Donna (Jim) Kay of Holstein, IA, Paul (Carolee) Franzkowiak of Schaller, IA, Mark (MaryLou) Franzkowiak of Schaller, IA; daughters-in-law Lois Crum of Schaller, IA and Marsha Crum of Denison, IA; 13 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren with 2 more arriving this fall and 10 great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law George (Darlene) Franzkowiak of Schaller, IA.

Rose was preceded in death by her husband Frank (2009); her sons Roger Crum and Steven V. Crum (a casualty of the Vietnam War); grandsons Nathan Tripp and Steven E. Crum; a great-grandson and great-great-grandson; her parents and all of her siblings and their spouses Lloyd, Raymond, Earl (Margaret), LeRoy (Marlene), Tom Sharkey, Neoma (Elmer) Schwarz, Eva (Bernard) Sevening, Ollie (Henry) Peters, Violet (Hans) Kirkholm and Pauline (Leonard) Newman; parents-in-law Henry and Dorathy Franzkowiak, brothers-in-law Henry (Phyllis), Raymond and Dwayne Franzkowiak; many nieces and nephews.