Rosemary Drees

Rosemary, daughter of Lawrence and Helen (Noonen) Higgins, was born November 22, 1930, on a farm southwest of Dunlap, Iowa. Rosemary graduated from St. Joseph’s school in Dunlap with the class of 1949. In these school years, she enjoyed music and was an exceptional cornet player and vocalist. Additionally, Rosemary was an athlete, excelling in volleyball and basketball. Following high school, Rosemary attended nursing school, graduating from St. Thomas Mercy Hospital in Marshalltown.

On February 19, 1955, Rosemary was united in marriage with Dennis Earl Drees at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dunlap. Six children were born to this union. Dennis worked as a welder, and he and Rosemary milked cows and farmed near Manning while Rosemary worked at Manning General Hospital and raised their children. After Dennis’s death in 1975, she worked at General Electric in Carroll. Her passion for people brought her back to the health care field in her years prior to retirement. In her early retirement years, Rosemary enjoyed seasonal work sorting corn in Coon Rapids.

Rosemary’s life was rooted in her devout Catholic faith. She loved her family wholeheartedly and was extremely proud of her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. Her home was always open, her cupboards were always full, and she was always eager to talk. Rosemary enjoyed traveling; a highlight of her travels was a trip of a lifetime to Ireland. Her family and friends will cherish memories of her visits, her warmth, her laughter, and her cinnamon rolls and homemade chocolate cake.

In November of 2019, Rosemary entered Accura Healthcare of Manning and passed away there on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at the age of 89 years.

God called Rosemary home, and she has been reunited with those she loved who had gone before her, including her parents and her husband.

Rosemary is survived by six children: Gary (Julie) Drees of Sloan; Anna (Paul) Weber of Ames; Mark (Karen) Drees of Medford, Oklahoma; Mary (Eric) Echterling of Dallas Center; Madonna (Gary) Gardner of Lancaster, Texas; and Matt (Jennifer) Drees of Sloan. Her survivors also include ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; a sister, Monica (Ed) Smith of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska; a brother, Lawrence (Betty) Higgins of Omaha; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other extended family members, and friends.