Ellen M. Rosmann
January 9, 1919 — May 19, 2010
Ellen Marie Rosmann, daughter of Henry J. and Katie (Kirschbaum) Mertens was born on January 9, 1919, in Defiance, Iowa and was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter�s Catholic Church in Defiance. She lived her entire life in Shelby County, Iowa. The oldest of five children, she is survived by two sisters: Virginia B. Thomas and her husband, Dr. Richard L. Thomas of Scottsdale, Arizona and Marie Casey and her husband, Bill Casey of Griswold, Iowa. Ellen also is survived by one brother, Robert H. Mertens and his wife, Jeanette Mertens of Fonda, Iowa.
Ellen attended St. Peter�s Catholic School in Defiance, beginning in the second grade at age five. She placed third in the Iowa Spelling Bee at age eleven and graduated from high school at the age of sixteen. Thereafter, she taught school in Greeley Township and later at St. Boniface School in Westphalia.
Ellen married Raymond J. Rosmann of Westphalia on October 1, 1941, and they became the parents of four sons. The Rosmann family made their home on their farm in Lincoln Township until they retired to Harlan in 1975.
Mrs. Rosmann was very active in community affairs throughout her life. She was a founding member of the Shelby County Association for Retarded Citizens and was instrumental in initiating the Shelby County Community Chest and helped start Concerned Incorporated. She was selected as the Shelby County Extension Service Homemaker of the Year in 1964 and Shelby County Merit Mother in 1980. Mrs. Rosmann was highly involved in church work, first at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia and later at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting her friends and family as well as reading, especially about history and politics.
In 1990, Ellen moved to the Elm Crest Apartments and then later to the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan and this has been her home since. Mrs. Rosmann died on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-one years, four months, and ten days. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray, on May 10, 1980; her son, Larry; and her sister, Kathryn Casey.
She is survived by her three sons: Joseph H. Rosmann and his wife Jinda of Bellevue, Washington; Michael R. Rosmann and his wife Marilyn of Harlan, Iowa; Ronald L. Rosmann and his wife Maria of Harlan; seven grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other family members and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Bob Hoefler celebrating the1:00 PM service. Interment was held at St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia, Iowa, with Shelby Rosmann Dames, Jon-Michael Rosmann, David Rosmann, Daniel Rosmann, Mark Rosmann, Andrea Rosmann, and Laura Rosmann serving as casket bearers.
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Ellen attended St. Peter�s Catholic School in Defiance, beginning in the second grade at age five. She placed third in the Iowa Spelling Bee at age eleven and graduated from high school at the age of sixteen. Thereafter, she taught school in Greeley Township and later at St. Boniface School in Westphalia.
Ellen married Raymond J. Rosmann of Westphalia on October 1, 1941, and they became the parents of four sons. The Rosmann family made their home on their farm in Lincoln Township until they retired to Harlan in 1975.
Mrs. Rosmann was very active in community affairs throughout her life. She was a founding member of the Shelby County Association for Retarded Citizens and was instrumental in initiating the Shelby County Community Chest and helped start Concerned Incorporated. She was selected as the Shelby County Extension Service Homemaker of the Year in 1964 and Shelby County Merit Mother in 1980. Mrs. Rosmann was highly involved in church work, first at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia and later at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting her friends and family as well as reading, especially about history and politics.
In 1990, Ellen moved to the Elm Crest Apartments and then later to the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan and this has been her home since. Mrs. Rosmann died on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-one years, four months, and ten days. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray, on May 10, 1980; her son, Larry; and her sister, Kathryn Casey.
She is survived by her three sons: Joseph H. Rosmann and his wife Jinda of Bellevue, Washington; Michael R. Rosmann and his wife Marilyn of Harlan, Iowa; Ronald L. Rosmann and his wife Maria of Harlan; seven grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other family members and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Bob Hoefler celebrating the1:00 PM service. Interment was held at St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia, Iowa, with Shelby Rosmann Dames, Jon-Michael Rosmann, David Rosmann, Daniel Rosmann, Mark Rosmann, Andrea Rosmann, and Laura Rosmann serving as casket bearers.
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