Walter T. Rose

Walter Thomas Rose, 90, of Garner, Iowa, formerly of Crystal Lake, passed away Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Concord Care Center in Garner.

A memorial service for Walter Rose will be held on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 10:30 AM at the Ewing Funeral Chapel in Britt with Pastor Lee Nelson officiating.  Inurnment will take place at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Crystal Lake.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 from 5-7 PM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Walter was born on August 27, 1920 on his family’s farm north of Crystal Lake.  He was the son of Howard and Elizabeth (Ragan) Rose and graduated from Crystal Lake High School in 1939.  He farmed with his dad until June 1942 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  Walter was stationed in Hawaii for almost two years.  While in the service, he married Marjorie K. Boyken at Treasure Island Naval Station in San Francisco, California.  After the war, they moved to a farm south of Buffalo Center where Walter farmed until he retired.  Their son, Tom, was born in 1953.  In 1984, they moved to Crystal Lake.  Walter lived there until moving to Concord Care Center in November 2009.

Walter enjoyed bowling and golf his whole life.  He never missed a chance to watch his grandkids participate in school sports and activities.

Walter is survived by his son, Tom and his wife, Becky (Larson) Rose; two grandchildren:  Danny of Des Moines and Jenny of Garner;  his sisters:  Ellen Robbins of Kerrville, Texas, Grace Culhane of Palatine, Illinois and Nancy (Maury) Buns of Woden; sisters-in-law:  Edith Teig of Titonka, JoAnn (Teus) Abbas of Yuma, Arizona, Carol Koosmann (Konrad) of Jamestown, NorthDakota, Ardeth Boyken of Algona and Karen Boyken of Algona; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; his parents; his sister, Catherine; and several brothers-in-law.