Rosemary Werner

Rosemary Werner, 82, Bradenton, Fla., went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005. Rosemary Elizabeth was born to Rev. J. T. and Zelma Browning Bloom, in St. Joseph, Mo. The third of four children born to a family that revered God, respected nature, and practiced the value of Scouting, Rosemary was an active and creative redhead, who loved reading, skating, and playing the trumpet, in the Benton High School marching band, St. Joe. Rosemary received a Bachelor of Science, in 1944, from William Penn College, Oskaloosa, Iowa. She taught secondary school, for two years, before traveling to Anchorage, Alaska, with a college friend. There she met and married Jack Werner, in 1947. In 1957, Jack and Rosemary moved to Bradenton, when Jack started working with brother-in-law, Robert Kessler. Rosemary worked as a librarian, at New College, for 20 years, retiring in August 1985. She was Associate Editor of The Manateean, a bi-weekly newspaper that she and Jack published, for over 10 years. She wrote restaurant and theater reviews and the popular Cook's Corner. After her retirement, she devoted her life to God, her family, and community service. Rosemary was an active member of Kirkwood Presbyterian Church and served on many committees for Peace River Presbytery. She was an organizing member of P.E.O. Sisterhoods, in Anchorage and Bradenton, and served as president in both chapters. She was a member of Suncoast Emmaus community. She was a faithful blood donor and eye tissue donor. Rosemary was a tireless volunteer in many community nonprofit organizations, where she quietly worked behind the scenes and did what needed to get done. Her genuine smile and joy of living were her trademarks. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She leaves behind two sons, Curtis (wife, Ruth; children, Nathan and Lily), Layton, Utah; Geoffrey (wife, Dao; daughter, Mali), New York City; two daughters, Christie Kimbrel (husband, James; daughter Jaime) Tallahassee; Melody Viser (husband, Jon; children, Hans and Liesel, Centinneal, Co. She is also survived by a brother, Francis (Hank) Bloom (wife, Joyce), Wells, Texas; sister, Joyce Kessler, Longboat Key; nephew, William Kessler, Bradenton; nieces, Claudia Cook (husband, Neil), Bradenton, and Kimberly Kessler, Raleigh, N.C. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Ted Bloom, and Jack, her beloved husband, of 58 years. The memorial service will be held Sat., Oct. 8, 5p.m., at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 6101 Cortez Road West, Bradenton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kirkwood, Attention: Alternative Christmas Market; Our Daily Bread, 1426 14th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205 or Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34238. Arrangements by Shannon Funeral Home, Bradenton.