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Rose Marie (Wernimont) Kean, age 96, died on Saturday, June 3, 2023 of natural causes at Arbor Terrace in Rochester where she had been a resident since December 2022.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Rose will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 9, 2023 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Stewartville, with the Father Kevin Connolly officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. A time of visitation will take place one hour prior to the service on Friday morning at the church.
Rose was born Dec. 1, 1926, to Bernard and Elizabeth (Kohorst) Wernimont on a farm near Auburn, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm, attended first grade at the local country school, transferred to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School in Mount Carmel, Iowa to attend grades 2-8, then graduated from Carroll Iowa Public High School in 1944. Later, she worked at Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, Nebraska for about two years.
On Sept. 9, 1948, Rose married Michael J. Kean at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Mount Carmel. Following their marriage, the couple lived on a farm near Dawson, Nebraska for 8 ½ years. Their four children were born in Richardson County, Nebraska.
In March of 1957, the family moved to a farm southeast of Grand Meadow. They raised their family and farmed there until 1989, then moved to a house in Stewartville. In retirement, they enjoyed gardening and some traveling. Rose continued to live in their home after Mike passed away on April 19, 2016. Rose loved living in the country, gardening, canning and helping on the farm. She enjoyed reading, writing letters, sewing, crafts, church projects/gatherings and coffee with neighbors.
Rose is survived by her four children, Mark (Sherry) Kean of Fountain, Ann (Marvin) Anderson of Chatfield, Allan (Sue) Kean of Cottage Grove, and Linda Behrens of Byron; her seven grandchildren, Taletha (Colby) Skar, Erica Behrens (Tyler Larsen), Rachel Behrens, Amanda (Jacob) Bosley, Nathan Kean, Jared Kean and Ryan Kean; her five great-grandchildren, Elliana and Iver Skar, Greta and Margot Bosley, and Levi Larsen; sister-in-law, Phyllis Wernimont; and brother-in-law, Phil Kean.
Rose was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, husband, sister, three brothers, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, many cousins, and son-in-law, Terry Behrens.
Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Rose are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com.