Dunn, Rosemary (Burke) 1922-2016

BURKE, DUNN, SIEGELE, KREINBRINK, KEPPLER, HOOPS, GOEDKEN, VASKE, COOK, BURRACK, EASTON, MIERSEN, GLAB

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 11/14/2017 at 10:11:14

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, March 6, 2016
ROSEMARY DUNN

Strawberry Point

The heavens are a little brighter today, the earth a little less so. Rosemary Dunn passed away Saturday, March 5, 2016, in the hospice care unit of Mercy Iowa City, surrounded by the love of her family at age 93.

The family invites you to gather together and share your memories and celebrate Rosemary and her life well-lived from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Strawberry Point, and an hour before the funeral Mass on Thursday starting at 9:30 a.m. at the church. A Scripture and rosary will be prayed at the 3:30 p.m. Wednesday visitation; friends and family are welcome to attend.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Strawberry Point. The Rev. Paul Peters will officiate. Burial will take place in the cemetery in Strawberry Point.

Rosemary Theresa was born July 17, 1922, in Dundee, the sixth of 10 children of Josephine and Frank Burke. When Rosemary was three the family moved to Elkader, where they lived for five years before settling in Strawberry Point. Rosemary graduated from the high school in Strawberry Point with the class of 1939. She attended the junior college that was in Elkader.

Rosemary married the love of her life, Burnell Dunn, on Aug. 26, 1941. They were together for 64 years until Burnell's death in 2005. This union was blessed with 11 children, 28 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Rosemary was guided by her love of and faith in God. Her rosary was always at hand. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Strawberry Point.

Rosemary was a most accomplished woman. She was a basketball player, mother, seamstress and quilter, cook and baker, artist, flower gardener and entertainer. Her paintings can be found from San Francisco to Davenport, her quilts from Minnesota to Arizona. She truly was one of a kind.

Family was a major part of Rosemary's life. Her house was always filled with family and friends whether it be holidays, birthdays or every day. It was not uncommon to have over 40 people for an event with Rosemary doing most of the cooking and partying. All her bountiful meals were made from scratch and ended with homemade desserts.

Music was important to Rosemary. From the dances at the coliseum or in Communia to the piano lessons as an adult, recorded music and live concerts, music filled her life. She loved to dance and is waltzing across the stars with Burnell and son Tom.

Rosemary was a kind and gentle soul, generous to a fault. She was the personification of motherhood. Saint she was not but probably as close to it as a person could be. She left a lasting impression on the lives of everyone who was blessed to know her and will always be remembered as a loving and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

She will be missed by all of those who were fortunate to have been a part of her life. We love you and miss you. May you rest in peace.

Left to cherish Rosemary's memory are her 10 surviving children (Jerry and Shiela Dunn, Rose Ann Siegele, Robert Dunn, Gregory Dunn, Mary and Larry Kreinbrink, Marcelene Keppler, Kevin Dunn and John Hoops, Lynette and Merlin Goedken, Felicia and Al Vaske and Steven Dunn); ex daughter-in-law, Shirley Dunn; daughter-in-law, Sharon Dunn; sister-in-law, Rosemary Burke; two brothers and their spouses (Vincent and Joan Burke and Ed and Janis Burke); and over 40 nieces and nephews.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Burnell; son, Thomas; grandson, Bill; grandson, Gregory Goedken; son-in-law, Jim Siegele;

son-in-law, Richard Keppler; five sisters and their spouses (Marie and Merlin Cook, Marguerite and Artie Burrack, Irene and Howard Easton, Dorothy and Don Miersen and Katie and Joe Glab); two brothers and one spouse (Harold and Dorothy Burke and Dr. Robert Burke); and one sister-in-law, Ardeth Burke.

The family wishes to thank all of the health, pastoral and hospice care providers, and the many extended family members and friends for their support and exceptional care.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to your local hospice or to the Caring Fund at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.