In Memory of Rosemary Albers

Rosemary Albers, age 83, of Ida Grove, Iowa, died Friday, December 28, 2012, at Morningside Rehab & Care Center in Ida Grove, Iowa, following a long, courageous battle with multiple myeloma cancer.

                Memorial services will be held 1:30 p.m. Sunday, December 30, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church in Ida Grove, Iowa.  Sharon Spotts will officiate the service, with burial in Midway St. Paul Cemetery, rural Battle Creek, Iowa.  The family will greet friends at the church on Sunday one hour prior to services. 

                Rosemary (Watkins) Albers was born July 1, 1929, in Sioux City, Iowa, to James Henry and Elizabeth (Derr) Watkins.  She grew up in Kingsley, Iowa, and graduated from Kingsley High School in 1946.

                After finishing high school at age 16, Rosemary completed nurses aide training in Sioux City and worked at Hartley Memorial Hospital in Battle Creek.  In Battle Creek, Rosemary met Lamern Albers after he returned from service during World War II.  Rosemary and Lamern were married on September 17, 1948, in Newell, Iowa.  They farmed near Battle Creek and Ida Grove.

                Rosemary enjoyed a good political discussion, family history research, trips to America’s state and national parks, writing poetry, and interesting architecture.  She also enjoyed New York Times crossword puzzles, which she often finished in ink.

                Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband, Lamern, in 1993; their son, Brian, in 1973; and her parents.  She is survived by her children, Lynn Elizabeth Albers and her life partner Dennis Laird of Gypsum, CO, Mitchell Albers of Meriden, IA, and Van Albers of Kansas City, KS.  Also surviving are a granddaughter, Colleen Laird and great-granddaughter, Tori Christina Ross, both of Las Vegas, NV; a sister, Karen (Roger) Vogt of LaCrosse, WI; a brother-in-law, Marvin (Betty) Albers of Sun City, AZ; and sister-in-law, Lois Fritz of Lake Mills, IA.