Rosetta Katherina Thumma

ROSETTA KATHERINE THUMMA

Tipton

Rosetta Katherine Thumma, 92, of Tipton, died peacefully with her family at her side at 11:50 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, in Cedar Manor Nursing Home. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. and funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. Burial will follow in the Stanwood Cemetery. A luncheon will be held in Tipton at St. Mary's Parish Hall following the burial. A memorial fund is being established in her memory. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.

Rosetta, one of seven children born to Fredrick and Anna Marie Christina (Eichhorn) Rehmke, was born on Jan. 3, 1926, in rural Jones County, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Melvin Warren Thumma on Aug. 4, 1946, in Stanwood, Iowa. They farmed near Mechanicsville and later moved to Tipton. Rosie received her R.N. degree from St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, where she was enrolled under the cadet nurse program. While in training, she also worked for The Cedar Rapids Gazette. Upon graduation, Rosie worked for Cedar Manor Nursing Home until 1983.

Melvin and Rosie moved to California in January of 1984, where they had a map business and did missionary work on the ships. She worked as an RN at Vacaville Nursing Home, and served as a hospice chaplain in California. After moving back to Iowa in 2001, Rosie enjoyed volunteering at Cedar Manor and Prairie Hills. She loved to play her harmonica, play dominoes and tile rummy with her grandchildren, and share her favorite candy bar, a Snickers, with them. Rosie was a member of Tipton Bible Church.

Rosetta is survived by her children, Eric Thomas Thumma (Linda) of Tipton, Scott Matthew Thumma (Maribel) of Tipton and Sarah Jane Crock (Kenneth) of Tipton; grandchildren, Corey Thumma, Erica Thumma, Rebecca Wurr, Shelly Sidhu (Sukhwindar), Jennifer Matthess, Nicole McMurrin (Daniel), Alicia Telsrow (Michael), Katlin Crock and Kolton Crock; 23 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Betty Thumma (Robert) of Tipton; and brother, Harold Remke (Betty) of Oxford Junction, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughter-in-law, Audrey Thumma; grandson, William Matthess; three brothers, Robert, Louis and Herbert Rehmke; and her sister, Luella Rehmke.