Rose Blackmer

Blackmer, Rose MADISON-Rose A. Blackmer, age 90, passed away in her sleep on Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, from complications after a fall. Rose Adelaide Blackmer was born the fifth of six girls to John and Emma Reierson, in Graettinger, Iowa, on March 22, 1919. At age six months, her family moved to a farm in Wisconsin on Cuba Valley Road. Rose started school at the Ella Wheeler Wilcox School in DeForest. When she was seven years old, her family moved to Madison where her mother ran a store and her father was a plastering contractor. Rose attended Holy Cross Christian School until the eighth grade and graduated from Madison East High School in 1936. She always loved school, especially French class. Rose worked at Nuemode Hosiery for seven years, starting as a clerk and eventually manager. In June 1941, she married Lester Blackmer. They were separated by his service in the South Pacific until 1945. They had a son, Kevin, in 1949 and moved to the West Side buying one of the first houses on Midvale Boulevard. A second son, Craig, was born in 1952. After moving to the West Side, Rose went to work as a checker at the Kroger (later as an IGA) store on Midvale Boulevard where she worked until she retired in 1983, making many friends over the years. After retirement, she and Les traveled the U. S., and visited Europe and Norway. Rose is survived by her two sons, Kevin (Merrilee) Blackmer and Craig Blackmer (Amanda Sutherland); grandsons, James Blackmer (Sheila Zembrycki) and Christopher Blackmer; two sisters, Ardelle Steimel and June Woods; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester in 1998; three sisters, Thelma, Esther and Jeanette; and two grandchildren, Benjamin and Tabitha. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at noon on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Entombment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Rose loved flowers and enjoyed working in the garden for many years. Any remembrances can be made in her name to Olbrich Botanical Gardens Society, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI 53704. The family would like to thank the staff of Chamomile Assisted Living 1 for making her last years so safe and happy, and the nurses and staff at St. Mary's Hospital and Oak Park for their caring the last two weeks. Memorials: Any remembrances can be made in her name to Olbrich Botanical Gardens Society, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI 53704. Cemetery: Entombment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation: Visitation will be at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Service: Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at noon on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009.