Esther J. Rose was a devout Christian who attended two area churches and also
enjoyed volunteering, her daughter Rachel Wilkens said.
Mrs. Rose was not a member of either Grand Avenue United Methodist Church or
Open Door Bible Church, both in Port Washington, but attended services and
activities at both.
"She was very devout and was active in both churches," Mrs. Wilkens said. "I
think she answered to a higher authority."
Mrs. Rose, 86, died Sunday, Nov. 29, at The Harbor Club in Port Washington,
where she had lived for three years.
Mrs. Rose was a Port Washington native, born on Dec. 31, 1911, to Charles and
Emma Maechtle Liebenstein.
She graduated from Milwaukee State Teachers College, then went to work at a
girls' school in Montrose, Penn., until 1940.
On Oct. 5, 1940, she married Alfred Rose in the Town of Port Washington.
Mrs. Rose was a homemaker, but returned to teaching after her youngest child
was in school, Mrs. Wilkens said. She taught at several Washington County
schools until she was hired as an art teacher at Cedar Grove High School in
the late 1960s.
She retired from teaching in June of 1977.
Mrs. Rose enjoyed traveling, Mrs. Wilkens said. She and her husband went to
Germany, where Mr. Rose was born and raised, several times before his death
in 1977.
She traveled to Germany several times after her husband's death, Mrs. Wilkens
said. Her mother spoke German fluently, she added.
Mrs. Rose also provided transportation to the elderly through the Ozaukee
County Office on Aging Services, just as Mr. Rose had during his lifetime,
Mrs. Wilkens said.
She also volunteered to play piano and organ at Heritage Nursing Home in Port
Washington.
"She could play piano by ear," Mrs. Wilkens said. "She would hear a piece of
music and be able to play it."
After a near-fatal car accident in 1995, Mrs. Rose moved to The Harbor Club.
She played the piano and organ there as well, Mrs. Wilkens said.
"At The Harbor Club, she also enjoyed playing bingo and doing jigsaw puzzles,"
her daughter saud. "She never had time for that before."
Mrs. Rose was a member of the Ozaukee County Retired Teachers Association.
She is survived by her children, Carol Nelson of Omaha, Neb., Sandra (Martin)
Grimord of Gallatin, Tenn., William (Jill) of Adell, Linda (Myron) Kellar of
Port Washington and Rachel (Ken) Wilkens of Random Lake, nine grandchildren
and five great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Rose is further survived by a brother Ed (Phyllis) Liebenstein of West
Bend.
Funeral services for Mrs. Rose were scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2,
at Eernisse Funeral Home in Port Washington. The Rev. Bob Gossett of Grand
Avenue United Methodist Church and the Rev. Sid Luke of Open Door Bible Church
were to officiate.
A visitation was to be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Interment was to be in Kiel City Cemetery, Kiel.
Ozaukee Press, Dec. 3, 1998