Rose Henry

Rose Marie (Keefe) Henry, 94, formally of the Bluffton area, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 11, 2020, at Luther Manor, Dubuque, Iowa. Due to Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Archdiocese, a private graveside service is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Saint Bridget’s Catholic Cemetery. If you wish to send a card to the family, send in care of Maureen Ward, 1951 South Grandview, Dubuque, IA 52003. Memorials will be given to the St. Bridget’s Cemetery Fund. Rose was born May 20, 1925 to William and Johanna (Mailey) Keefe on their family farm in Bluffton Township. She was baptized at Saint Bridget’s Catholic Church Bluffton. During the early World War II years, Rose lived and worked near Rockford, Illinois. She returned to Decorah in 1942 and worked for several years for the J.C. Penney Company. On April 6, 1948, she was united in marriage to Gerald Henry at Saint Bridget’s Church Bluffton, by the Rev. George A. Mahoney. This union was blessed with six children; three girls Maureen, Shannon and Elaine and three boys Kevin, Danny and Brian. The family lived on their farm in Bluffton Township until Rose and Gerald retired and moved closer to Decorah in 1986. Rose is survived by her children Maureen (Michael) Ward of Dubuque, IA; Shannon (John) Slowiaczek of Omaha NE; Elaine (Roger) Kaltefleiter of Parkville, MO; Kevin (Jo) Henry of Urbandale, IA; and Brian Henry of New Hampton, IA. She is also survived by grandchildren Colin Ward, Monica (Andy) Winders, Brian Ward, and Daniel Ward of Dubuque, IA, and Caitlin (Michael) Borge of Overland Park, KS; Kara (John) Golian of Leawood, KS, Anlee Slowiaczek of Chicago IL, Mary Kate (Cody) Blum of Charleston, SC, and Michael (Melissa) Slowiaczek of Parker, CO; Marissa (Andy) Thomas of Kansas City, MO; Jacob Kaltefleiter of Overland Park, KS, Katrina Kaltefleiter of Omaha, NE, and Ty Kaltefleiter of Parkville, MO. She is also survived by fourteen great grandchildren. Rose was preceded in death by her husband Gerald on March 1, 1999, infant son Danny, her parents, her brother William Keefe, Jr., a nephew, Larry Keefe, and by dear friends and adopted grandparents, Bud and Flora Bucknell. Our Mom will be remembered as an incredible mother and a hardworking partner to our Dad in running the family farm. She was a great friend and neighbor, and a faithful member of St. Bridget’s Parish. She was an active member of the Rosary Society, helping to organize the annual Labor Day Picnic and later serving for many years as the chair of the October Dinner & Raffle. Mom also worked hard raising her family to be educated and productive citizens. She was very creative, had a quick wit, a great sense of humor, and was an accomplished seamstress. Mom was a great listener, loved all things Irish, and made a mean banana oatmeal cookie. She loved to read and she really loved to drive. Mom’s was the very definition of a lead foot and we consider it a great blessing that she was able to drive well into her nineties. We can only hope there are cars in heaven. We love you, Mom. Peace (and drive carefully). Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.