Rose Marie Swanson (nee Elbe) was born on May 13, 1928, in Gillett. She passed peacefully to eternal life on March 14, 2011.

Rose was the seventh of nine children born to Gustav and Rosina Elbe and grew up in Mountain. Rose graduated from Mountain High School and attended college in Marinette. She moved to Lakewood, where she met her husband, Donald Carl Swanson, while working at The Lakewood Hotel. Don and Rose married on Feb. 9, 1947, at Tabor Lutheran Church in Mountain. She was preceded in death by Don on May 7, 1977. Don was the postmaster in Lakewood from May 1956 until his passing.

Rose was a devoted wife and homemaker, raising a family of seven daughters while being active in her church and community. Rose was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Townsend and participated in Ladies Aid, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Altar Guild and as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent. Rose was a past-president of the LWML North Wisconsin District, past-president of the Oconto County Cancer Society, member of the VFW Auxiliary, Lakewood Mardi Gras Association, Lakewood Old-Timers Club, Municipal Clerks Association, Lakewood Homemakers Club and sewing circles. Over the years, Rose worked at Club 32, Norgaard’s Supper Club, Lakewood Red Owl, Linssen’s Bakery, Something Special and as Town Clerk. Rose stayed busy in her later years as a resident ombudsman while living at NuRoc Community Healthcare and worked each month as editor of NuRoc News. Many enjoyed her sewn creations that she sold at local craft fairs. She was a remarkable woman who persevered through many challenges. She miraculously survived meningitis in the early 1990s which slowed her down but never damped her spirit. Rose survived a major stroke in June 2010. She lost her mobility but kept her sense of humor.

Rose is survived by daughters, Sue (the Rev. Howard) Neider, Mary (Gilbert) Sauer, Ruth (Dave Tuma) Joss, Sheri Frank, Trudy (Gary) Linssen, Gwen (John) Sauer and Lisa (David) Hirsch; siblings, Ruth Elbe-Olson, Robert (Marvel) Elbe and Thomas (Marge) Elbe; and sister-in-law, Virginia (Tom Loiacono) Greco; grandchildren, Kati (Michael) Koller, Amy (Ryan) Bretz, Shawn (Tonya) Neider, the Rev. Erik (Joelle) Neider, Erin Hill, Sara Sauer, Joseph Linssen, Andrea (Josh Berken) Linssen, Michelle (Dan Drewek) Sauer, Elizabeth Sauer, Sienna Rose Hirsch and Krystal Tuma; great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Lukas and Ava Neider, Kelsey, Nathan, Emily and Amanda Koller, Reagan and Adeline Bretz, Justin and Ella Sauer and Briahna Berken and Alexis Hammer.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Gustav and Rosina Elbe; husband, Donald Swanson; parents-in-law, Elmer and Edna Swanson; three infant daughters; son-inlaw, Arnie Frank; siblings, Esther (Selmer) Markusen, Dona (Donald) Bauerfiend, Reinhold (Beatrice) Elbe, Walter (Margorie) Elbe, Paul (Doris) Elbe, Ehrhardt "Rusty" Olson, Iva (Ray) Hogan, Elmer (Johanna) Swanson Jr., Beverley (Bill) Davenport and Carl Greco.

Visitation was held Friday, March 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Townsend. Funeral services followed at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Stephen Mueller officiating. Interment was in the Lakewood Forest Cemetery.

Weber-Hill Funeral Home, Wabeno is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences at www.weberhillfuneralome.com

The family would like to thank the staff at NuRoc and Cedar Lake Nursing Homes for the wonderful and loving care provided to Mom the last 20 years.