Rose Marie Ann ‘Rose’ Njus, 69

Oct. 12, 1947 — 

March 1, 2017

 

Lawler -  Rose Marie Ann "Rose" Njus, age 69 of Lawler, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare in New Hampton, Iowa under the care of St. Croix Hospice from complications of cancer. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2017, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Kyle Digmann celebrating the Mass. Interment will be held in the church cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted with Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home in Lawler.

Friends may greet the family 3-7 p.m. Friday, March 10, 2017, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, where there will be a 4 p.m. parish scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday. Online condolences for Rose's family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com

Rose Marie Ann Njus was born Oct. 12, 1947, in Cresco, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Gertrude (Bartosh) Martinek. She was baptized on Nov. 9, 1947, and received First Communion on May 22, 1955, at Assumption Church in Cresco. She was confirmed in her faith on March 30, 1958, at St. Patrick's Church in Cedar Falls. 

Rose attended elementary schools in Cresco, Hawkeye and Cedar Falls and graduated from eighth grade at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School in 1961 in Lawler. She graduated from Turkey Valley Community School in May 1965 as Valedictorian. On June 13, 1969, she graduated from Winona State College with a Bachelor of Science teaching degree in English, Speech and Physical Education. 

Rose taught seventh grade English at Oelwein in 1969-1970. In 1970 she worked for LOOK magazine in Des Moines as a secretary in the Customer Service Depart. In 1971 she taught High School English in Rockwell. 

On April 22, 1972 Rose married Vern L. Njus at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lawler; to this union four children were born, Scott in 1973, Allen in 1975, Donald (D.J.) in 1977 and Rhonda in 1981. The couple moved to their farm, three miles north of Lawler in April 1973. While Vern farmed, custom farmed, drove school bus, built their new home in 1974, had a repair shop, owned and operated a bulk gas truck from 1977-1990 and rebuilt cars from 1991-March 1994, Rose worked as a teachers' aide at Turkey Valley from August 1973 until May 1977. She then became a full-time stay-at-home mom, bookkeeper, receptionist, farmer, car detailer and truck driver. She also taught second and third grade religion class from 1988-1991. 

Vern suffered a massive stroke on March 6, 1994. Vern, Rose and Rhonda moved into Lawler in October 1995. In June 1997 Rose began working at Schueth Ace Hardware in New Hampton. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2007. 

Rose was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lawler, the Parish Society and the Catholic Daughters.  

She absolutely enjoyed helping people at Ace and making new friends. She began most days having coffee and a roll with Carla and the others at the Hole in the Wall. She enjoyed playing Euchre whenever she could, especially on Thursday nights. She loved being outside playing in the dirt. Sharing her potato and strawberry crop with family and friends brought her great joy. She loved to read, and her day always ended with reading the newspaper. But most of all, Rose enjoyed spending precious time with her children and grandchildren. 

Rose is survived by her four children and their families, Scott (Jess) Njus and their son, Chandler of Fredericksburg, Iowa, Allen (Sarah) Njus and their daughters, Lydia and Elaina of Pearland, Texas, D.J. (Jodi) Njus and their sons, Dillon and Tanner of New Hampton and Rhonda (Mike) Travers of Mason City, Iowa; one sister, Doris (Frankie) Kizer of Bradford, Tenn.; aunt, Theona Mlady of Cresco; uncle, Gene (Sally) Bartosh of Moline, Ill.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lyle (Berdette) Njus of Lawler, and Orlo (Joannie) Njus of Waverly, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and cousins. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vern on April 21, 2008; father, Clarence on Feb. 27, 1980; and mother, Gertrude on Feb. 27, 1987.