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Rose Kalmer Obituary
Rose Marie Kalmer, nee Bauer, 66, of Damiansville, Ill., born Jan. 28, 1943, in East St. Louis, Ill., died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009 at St. Mary's Hospital, Clayton, Mo.
Mrs. Kalmer was a homemaker. She also spent many years babysitting for numerous children and she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of St. Damian Parish and Ladies Sodality in Damiansville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Mary, nee Garcia, Bauer; three sons, Keith, Kevin, and Richard Kalmer in infancy; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alphonse and Leona Kalmer.
She is survived by her husband, Jerome H. Kalmer of Damiansville, Ill., whom she married Sept. 9, 1961, in Mount Vernon, Ill.; her step mother, Alice Bauer, formerly of Belleville, Ill.; one son, Stephen (Barb) Kalmer of Damiansville, Ill.; one daughter, Susan (Clay) Lynch of Damiansville, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Calvin Kalmer, Chris Kalmer, Danielle Kalmer, Lauren Lynch, Natalie Lynch, Kevin Lynch, and Rebecca Lynch; one brother, Joseph (Linda) Bauer of Fort Smith, Ark.; a sister, Anita Bauer of Mattoon, Ill.; and a half sister, Joan Bauer of Dunn, N.C.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ralph and Ginny Kalmer of Harrisonville, Mo., Patricia Harpstrite (special friend, John Friess) of New Baden, Ill., and Leonard "Lenny" (special friend, Barb) Kalmer of Aviston, Ill.; she is also survived by nieces, nephews, aunts and cousins.
Memorials may be made to St. Damian Parish or to Damiansville Elementary School or to the National Kidney Foundation and will be received at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hempenfuneralhome.com
Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, and from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Hempen Funeral Home, New Baden, Ill.
Funeral: Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at St. Damian Catholic Church, Damiansville, Ill., with Monsignor Donald Eichenseer officiating. Burial will be in St. Damian Cemetery, Damiansville, Ill.
HEMPEN FUNERAL HOME, New Baden, Ill.
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Memories and Condolences
for Rose Kalmer
2 Entries
Brad Koerkenmeier
October 23, 2009
Jerry, I am so sorry for your loss... I am lucky to be a graduate of Rosie's Daycare, although it feels odd for me to call it that, since we were really treated as part of the family. As a matter of fact, I am fairly certain that the daycare "business" lost money on me. Rosie made sure we ate well and fed me like a king with pancakes and sausage every morning and after school snacks didn't last long either. Since we were on the farm we were exposed to all sorts of interesting things. We were able to see puppies, kittens, and calves being born, ducklings and goslings being hatched, we saw trophy deer and fish, trapped raccoons, groundhogs, and other varmints. It was like a non-stop show and tell session that a "daycare" today couldn't even attempt to compare to. Rosie took a genuine interest in all of our schoolwork and went the extra step to help with class projects (all while having all ages of kids to take care of). Jerry, Steve, and Susan also took an interest in the kids. I remember learning about airplanes and launching model rockets with Steve, going to the beach in the summer w/ Susan, and learning the engineering principles of cranes and hoists used at Granite City Steel from Jerry. I know Rosie genuinely cared about her "adopted" kids and was proud of their achievements. She maintained contact with her kids even after some of them got married and had kids of their own. We were fortunate to be in such a great environment around such a caring, cheerful person. For that I will forever be grateful. We will miss you Rosie!
Brad Koerkenmeier
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October 23, 2009
Jerry, you have our deepest sympathy. My cousin Rosie was a great person. She would do anything to help another human being. I didn't see her much later in life, but her words at Julie's and mom's funerals were fantastic.
Rich & Donna Garcia
Fort Myers, FL
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