McDonald, Rosemary A.

Rosemary A. McDonald, 87, of Cedar Rapids, died June 3, 2012 at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 8, 2012 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with Rev. Phil Thompson officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home where a vigil service will begin at 5 p.m. Entombment will take place at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Surviving are her children, Rosanne (John) Newkirk of Cranford, N.J., John E. McDonald II of Marion, and Michael Glenn McDonald of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren, Cristy (Tim) Harwood of Gilbert, Iowa, Christopher (Jade) Newkirk of Union City, N.J., Brian (Keri) Newkirk of Fullerton, Calif., Andrew Newkirk of New York City, N.Y., Glenn (Keely) McDonald and Sarah Devereux, all of Cedar Rapids; her great-grandchildren, Morgan and Matthew Harwood, Sophia, Olivia and Jaquelynn Newkirk, Jaden McDonald, Bentley, Keanna and Jonathan Davenport, Mahlan Sharf, and Jacob and Isabella Devereux; her brother, John “Jack” Robinson of Idaho; her sister, Janet Sheuer of Texas; her sister-in-law, Patti McDonald of Connecticut; as well as many nieces, nephews, good friends, neighbors and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John “Jack”; stepfather, Clem Cashman; daughter-in-law, Vera McDonald; brother-in-law, Roger McDonald; sisters, Kathryn Hermsen and Rita Wiley; and an infant brother, James.

Rosemary Ann McDonald was born December 6, 1924 in Cedar Rapids to Edward and Anna (Ryan) Robinson. She was a proud graduate of Immaculate Conception School. She was united in marriage to John E. McDonald on April 26, 1943 in Cedar Rapids. She worked at many area businesses. Rosemary was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church.

She enjoyed all that the outdoors had to offer, from birds and flowers to her time spent fishing and staying at the family's summer home on the Mississippi River. She also was a gifted seamstress who enjoyed sewing and crocheting. Rosemary also enjoyed crossword puzzles, china painting, playing bridge and, in her younger days, bowling. Above all her dearest love was all of her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend thanks to all of Rosemary's neighbors in Bowman Woods, The Ladage and Nelson families, the members of St. Pius that brought her communion on Sundays, and the staffs of Mercy Medical Center, Hallmar and Mercy Hospice.

Please leave a message, tribute or memory to Rosemary's family on our webpage, under Obituaries.

Published June 5, 2012 in The Gazette