Rose E. Elbert

Rose Evelyn (Shellenberger) Elbert, age 100, of Mankato, Minnesota, died February 17, 2023, at her home surrounded by family.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 1 pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 632 S. Broad Street, Mankato, MN, with Father John Kunz officiating. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to services. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Mankato Mortuary is handling arrangements. The service will be livestreamed from Rose's obituary at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Rose was born on a farm north of Early, Iowa, in Sac County on July 16, 1922. She was the fifth child of William & Loretta (Smith) Shellenberger. In order, her siblings are: Marian, Marie, Clela, Wini, (Rose), Robert, Helen, Joan, Clarice, and Paula. Her schooling consisted of 12 years at Sacred Heart, Early, Iowa; one year at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and three years nursing training at St. Joseph's Mercy, Fort Dodge, Iowa. She was a graduate of the Class of 1943. She wrote her Iowa State Boards in Des Moines, Iowa, and became a three-year Registered Nurse. Following graduation she worked at St. Francis Hospital, Santa Barbara, California; St. Mary's Hospital in Long Beach, California; St. Ann's Hospital in Algona, Iowa, regular and private duty; and the last 17 years of her career at Immanuel-St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato, Minnesota, retiring in 1987. After her retirement she volunteered her time with the American Red Cross and took blood pressures for Senior Citizens at Lewis Eastgate . She also assisted in testing nurses-aides at Mankato Area Vo-Tech school in North Mankato, Minnesota.

Rose was united in marriage to Archie Elbert on April 19, 1947, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early, Iowa. They raised six children on a farm east of Algona, Iowa, near Sexton, Iowa, until the latter part of 1969 when they moved to Mankato, Minnesota. In 2007 they celebrated 60 years of marriage. Rose served her church, St. John the Baptist, by belonging to a Circle, St. John's Council of Catholic Women, assisting with the St. Patrick's Day Ham Dinner, and church cleaning. Rose spent many hours in her garden from which she canned all sorts of vegetables for her family. She had a green thumb with plants, especially philodendrons, and loved to propagate them to share with others. Rose had maintained a lasting friendship with many of her coworkers and Parish relationships outlasting many family and friends. Her memory was tremendous. We would often get out “the book” which is a compilation of the family trees, complete with stories and photos. Rose's memory would fill in the blanks, and she would add her notes in the margins to go along with the published content. A vast storehouse of memories and experiences, she readily shared for our amusement, knowledge, and delight. Rose was up on all the happenings on the political scene, local, state, and National.

Rose is survived by her six children, Michael (Joy) Elbert of Alta Loma, CA, Eileen (Donald) Haase of Kamiah, ID, Thomas (Kris) of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Joan (Jeff) Carr of Florence AZ, Diane (Doug Fallenstein) Depuydt of North Mankato, MN, Tim (Deb Gostomczik) Elbert of Mankato; 9 grandchildren; 21great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Archie (May 8, 2007), her parents, siblings, granddaughter, Barbara Depuydt, great-granddaughter, Ariel Elbert; great-great granddaughter Lela Elbert. She was the last survivor of her and Archie's families. They were both part of what has been called “The Greatest Generation”.

Memorials are preferred to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church or to St. Croix Hospice Program.