Rose Marie Meer

ROSE MARIE MEER

Iowa City

Rose Marie Meer, 95, of Iowa City passed away Sept. 16, 2021, at Atrium Village after a prolonged illness. To celebrate her life, a visitation for friends and family will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service,

605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City. Masks and distancing will be required for those attending. A private service is planned for family only at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the funeral home. However, the service will be livestreamed so Roses's friends and family from afar can also celebrate her life. The zoom link may be found under the Tribute Wall on Roses obituary page at www.lensingfuneral.com. Private burial will be at Sharon Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your preferred charity or as a special thanks to Atrium Village, Hills, Iowa, or Essence of Life Hospice of Iowa City, Iowa.

Rose Marie was born April 29, 1926, to Truman and Matilda (Rummelhart) Shrader. She was born in Iowa City, Iowa, specifically University Heights, not to forget her famous claim of being the first person to be born in University Heights. She enjoyed growing up in the small tight knit community of Iowa City and University Heights with her five siblings, Bernard, John "Jack," Gertrude "Ann," Charlotte and Mary Jo. She graduated from St. Mary's High School in Iowa City in 1944.

Rose Marie married William Hunzinger and together they had three children, Michael, Thomas and Christine. Rose Marie and Roy "Banty" Meer were married in February 1963. The couple settled in Sharon Center, Iowa, where they would spend 31 memorable years together before he passed away in 1994. Aside from her role as a devoted wife and loving mother, Rose was a dedicated employee at Hills Bank and Trust Co. in Hills, Iowa, for 31 years, retiring in 1989.

She returned to Iowa City following retirement and became a respected member of the community at the Bon-Aire Mobile Park, where she lived for many years. Rose was independent throughout her whole life and was able to live at her home until her illness. She moved to Atrium Village in November 2020 and was a resident for 10 months.

Rose was an active member of the Iowa City community. She was a member of the University Women's Club and Iowa City Women's Bowling Association, where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. She also was an active volunteer for Elder Services Volunteer Program, Rock and Read Program and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Gift Shop.

Rose had a kindhearted soul and always practiced the kindness that the world needed more of every day. There was no such thing as a stranger to Rose and if you knew her, you just knew she made a new friend anywhere she went. She always found hobbies and things to do to entertain herself. Nothing came close to the dedication to the Hawkeyes but aside from cheering on the Hawkeyes, she also loved time spent bowling, playing bridge, golfing and traveling.

Rose's best advice to family and friends was: "the thing that goes the farthest towards making life worthwhile, that costs the least and does the most is just a friendly smile", which she exemplified.

The family of Rose extends their deep appreciation to Dan Hayslett, Mary Craig, Shannon Andrews, Linda Heyn, and the Carlos Sosa family for their consistent contact and support.

She is survived by her three children, Mike (Judy) Hunzinger of Scottsdale, Ariz., Thomas (Marguerite) Hunzinger of McGregor, Iowa, and Christine Hunzinger of Newton, Iowa; two sisters, Charlotte Schaeffer of Mason, Ohio, and Mary Jo Wagner of Omaha, Neb.; six grandchildren, Lisa (Gareth) Patton of Rapid City, S.D., Matthew (Cristy) Hunzinger of Glendale, Ariz., Jason (Sarah) Hunzinger of Marengo, Iowa, and Erika Hunzinger of Waupaca, Wis., Anne (Ryan) Riviere of Johnston, Iowa, and Sarah Rinner (Michael Trevino) of Austin, Texas; great-grandchildren, Andrew, Nicholas, Michael, Ashley Rose and Adam Patton, Mickala Mullnix, Amy, Tyler, Jacob and Chase Hunzinger, Shaelyn and Logan Seeger, Alexander and Penelope Trevino and Vivienne Riviere; and a great-great-grandson, Sawyer Edwards; former son-in-law, Chris Rinner of Des Moines, Iowa; and many extended family members and friends.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her siblings, Bernard Shrader, John Shrader and Ann Wade.