Tanner, Rose

Rose Tanner, 73, of Victor, passed away after a courageous battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis at the Marengo Memorial Hospital with her family and friends at her side, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 30, at the Methodist Church in Marengo, with Pastor Jim Davis officiating. Visitation will be from 2 until 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, with the family present from 4 to 7 p.m., at Smith Funeral Home in Victor. Interment will be at the Ohio Cemetery, rural Ladora.

Memorials may be directed to the Rose Tanner Memorial Fund and sent c/o Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 485, Victor, IA 52347. The family will donate contributions to Rose's favorite charities.

Rose Marie Larson Thorn Tanner was born May 28, 1940, to George and Nora Johnson Larson in Postville, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm in Clermont and attended Valley of Clermont and Elgin, graduating with the class of 1958. After high school, she moved to Waterloo with her sister Gerene and began working at Northwestern Bell Telephone Co.

In August 1961, she married Larry Thorn. The couple moved to Marengo in 1968 and to this union three children were born: Lesa, Lori and Jason.

On Sept. 3, 1990, she married Gary Tanner and the couple lived in rural Victor. Rose was employed for 19 years by the Department of Human Services until her retirement.

Rose and Gary enjoyed traveling and one of their favorite places to visit was Branson, Mo.

Rose will be remembered by her family and friends as a strong, spiritual woman who always placed others before herself. She spent many hours volunteering her time and giving to those in need. Rose had a strong faith in God and was dedicated to the church and her spiritual growth. Rose loved taking care of her family and spending time with her grandchildren.

Rose was a member of the Ladora Methodist Church, UMW, American Legion Auxiliary, Beta Sigma Phi, Marengo Prayer Group and Victor Prayer Group.

Rose is survived by her husband, Gary; her children, Lesa (Todd) Waddell of Marengo, Lori (Grant) Bearbower of Plainfield, Ill., Jason Thorn of Marengo, Lonny Tanner of Victor and Connie (Dean) Smith of Ankeny; her siblings, Gerene (Paul) Sawvell of Fayette, George Jr. (Rhonda) Larson of Maryland, Karen (Don) Dunlap of Independence and Larry (Linda) Larson of Missouri; her grandchildren, Emily and Abby Waddell, Natalie, Braden and Brody Bearbower, Jaci (Corey) Blackmer, Tiffany (David) Mickelson, Chelsea (Calvin) Kroes, Taylor, Tara and Elizabeth Tanner, Mallory, Dallas, and Marisa Smith; and two great-grandsons, Callen and Carson.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Published Dec. 27, 2013 in The Gazette