Rosemary Alice Zurn

Rosemary was born on September 1st, 1930, in Barnesville, MN, and went home to the Lord on February 20th, 2018, joining Marcell, her husband of 65 years, who died three weeks ago. She passed on unexpectedly but peacefully with family by her side, at her home in Coon Rapids, MN. She was 87 years old.

Rosemary was the oldest of five children of Walter Adeline & Marie Antoinette (Reynolds) Savig. She grew up on farms near Lake Park, MN, and graduated from Lake Park High School. She earned a teaching certificate from MN State University Moorhead and taught in Doran, Moorhead, Rustad, and Lake Park grade schools, starting in 1950.

Rosemary married Marcell Arthur Zurn at Assumption Catholic Church in Callaway, MN, on June 10th, 1952. They raised their seven children in Moorhead. Rosemary’s focus was always on family, church, and community.

Rosemary was active in the Republican Party, the society of St. Vincent de Paul, Birthright, and at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She held many leadership positions, including as an officer in Catholic Daughters. She was at home when her children were young – busy! Still, Rosemary graduated with a bachelor’s degree from MN State University Moorhead in 1969, when her kids were 6 to 16 years old, and went back to full-time teaching. She taught Title 1 special education at St. Mary’s and St. Anthony’s Catholic schools, and then 2nd and 3rd grades at Lincoln School, all in Fargo, ND, until retiring in 1995. Rosemary was a devoted and excellent teacher, and she enjoyed her students, their parents, and her colleagues. She took care of her students, to the point of buying them clothes, shoes, and coats if they had none.

After they moved to Coon Rapids in 2009 to be near family, Rosemary helped found the Coon Rapids Tea Party and she remained active in the Republican Party for many years. Rosemary participated in several book clubs in Coon Rapids; this was both a social and an intellectual pleasure for her. She was an avid gardener and loved spending time with her flowers.

Rosemary is survived by her beloved children Denise Zurn (Terry Freeman), Renee Zurn, Lois (Richard) King, Mark (Linda) Zurn, Ann Zurn (John Hemmerle), Susan (Tom) Lambert, and Andrew (Mary) Zurn, and 24 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, all of whom she enjoyed so much, as well as sisters Rita (Jack) Willette and Ruby Jean (Terry) Jenstead, sisters-in-law Betty Dean, Estelle (Ray) Farley, Arletta (Art) Munger, Shirley Zurn, and Wanda Zurn, brother-in-law David (Eleanor) Zurn, and many nieces, nephews, and close cousins.

Rosemary rests now in the arms of the Lord, with her beloved husband Marcell, her parents and grandparents, and many much-loved family members who preceded her in death, including brothers Roger (Peggy) Savig and Robert Savig, and brothers-in-law Duane (Delores), Marcus (Gail), Harlan, and Merlen Zurn. May the light of Jesus Christ, our Savior, shine perpetually upon her, and grant her peace. She will be greatly missed. You raised us well and gave us a great family, Mom, and we will love you always.

Services are SAT – MAR 3rd at Assumption Catholic Church in Callaway, MN: Visitation 10:30 AM, Rosary 11:15 AM, Mass of Christian Burial at Noon, with luncheon to follow, and interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Donations are preferred in her memory to St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Moorhead, MN, and to Assumption Catholic Church, Callaway, MN.