Rose Mary (Spaight) Downs

ROSE MARY (SPAIGHT) DOWNS

Cedar Rapids

Rose Mary (Spaight) Downs, 81, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, at the Hiawatha Care Center after a long battle with dementia. She was born Sept. 9, 1940, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Elma (Serbousek) Spaight. Rose graduated high school from the Villa Maria Academy for Girls in Frontenac, Minn. She attended Mary Crest College in Davenport, Iowa, for two years.

One of Rose's first jobs was at Smulekoff's Furniture in Cedar Rapids. This is where she met her future husband, Gary Downs. The two were united in marriage on May 16, 1964, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, in Cedar Rapids. Two children, Dianne and Michael, were born to this union. Gary and Rose started Downs Flooring in the 1960s. The business remained open until June 2018.

In the early 1980s, Rose returned to college. She graduated from the Culinary Arts Program at Kirkwood Community College in 1986. Shortly after graduating, Rose opened The Great Midwestern Ice Cream Co. in Twix Town Square, next to Collins Road Theatre. Later, she worked at various senior living and nursing homes as a baker. She retired as the baker at Coe College in 2013.

Rose enjoyed cooking, especially baking, gardening and visiting with friends. For many years, she belonged to Bridge Club. One of her favorite things was hosting family holidays. Nobody ever left hungry. Rose devoted much of her time to caring for some of her elderly relatives. She loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Rose is survived by her two children, Dianne (Jason) Osmun of Manchester and Michael Downs of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren, Steve Osmun (Courtney), Rachel Lange (Kevin), Emily Lange (Kevin), Nathan Lange, Hayley Osmun (Cody), Kaitlyn Osmun, Miah Downs and Sofia Osmun; one great-granddaughter, Lilly Osmun; a brother, Tom Spaight (Lynn); a brother-in-law, Eddy Walter; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gary Downs; a grandson, Spencer Lange; three sisters, Rita Pappenfus, Bernadine Walter and Theresa Hestwood; and two brothers-in-law, Ernie Pappenfus and Charlie Hestwood.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.

Because of COVID-19 concerns, masks are recommended at the funeral home.

Funeral service: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 29, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Manchester, Iowa, with the Rev. Mary Green officiating.

Visitation: 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Manchester, Iowa.

Interment: Oakland Cemetery, Manchester, Iowa.