Rose A. Tobben

1922 - 2024

Rose Adele Tobben, 102, Washington, passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2024, her 78th wedding anniversary, at the Lenoir Senior Center of Columbia, MO.

Rose, daughter of Joseph and Adele (Lewis) Latz, was born in St. Louis, MO, on April 1, 1922. Her father was a business manager for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and the family moved several times in her early life before settling in Houston, TX, when Rose was seven. She grew to young adulthood in Houston, then a medium-sized city of 300,000. Rose was a 1939 graduate of Incarnate Word Academy in Houston. She greatly appreciated the education she received from the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, both in teaching and in moral instruction.

Rose's life was forever changed in the latter days of World War II when her brother, George, brought home on leave his army buddy, Omar Tobben, from Washington, MO. It was love at first sight, or at least something closely akin to it. After a brief courtship, they were married on July 10, 1946, at All Saints Catholic Church in Houston. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Washington, where Rose spent all but the last few months of her life.

Rose and Omar were married for almost 69 years before his death on May 15, 2015. They were devoted to each other, with Rose as a homemaker and Omar employed for decades at Sporlan Valve, eventually as plant manager.

She was blessed to be able to continue living at their home until the last few months of her life.

Rose's vocation in life was to be a mother to her seven children. Her values were faith, family, and education. She modeled those values to her children every day. She was a faithful member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish for 57 years and previously of St. Francis Borgia Parish for 21 years. Her greatest joy in her latter years was following the activities and accomplishments of her children and their families and visiting with them.

Rose is survived by her seven children and their families: Dan (Katrin) Tobben, of St. Louis, and their daughters, Stephanie Tobben and Bettina (Geoff) Drake; Tom (Betty) Tobben, of Chesterfield, and their children, Janine (Justin) Noetzel, Greg (April) Tobben, and Michelle (Evan) Ogonowski; Mark (Lisa) Tobben, of Washington, and their daughter, Kaitlyn Tobben; Ann (Carl) Schaeperkoetter, of Columbia, MO, and their children, Chris Schaeperkoetter, Joe Schaeperkoetter, and Claire (Colin) Zvosec; Paul (Karen) Tobben, of Charlotte, NC, and their sons, John (Brooke) Tobben, Daniel Tobben, and Michael (Paige) Tobben; Cathy Tobben, of Evanston, IL, and her son, Julian Schulte; Theresa (Joe) McGowan, of Washington, and their children, Margaret (Austin) Volmert, Caroline McGowan, and Matthew McGowan. She also leaves behind 16 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, neighbors, and friends.

Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Omar; her parents, Joseph and Adele Latz; her brothers, George, Bill, and John Latz, and their spouses, all of the state of TX; her brothers-in-law and spouses, Lawrence (Evelyn) Tobben and George (Evie) Tobben, of Washington; her sisters-in-law and spouses, Mary Jane and Bill Poepsel, and Dorothy and Fred Ruether, all of Washington, and Lucille and Morris Wessel, of St. Charles County. She is also preceded by two Latz and six Tobben nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held from 4-8 p.m. Monday, July 15, at Nieburg-Vitt, Miller Funeral Home.

A Mass of Christian burial was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church,Washington.

Burial followed at St. Francis Borgia Cemetery, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Omar and Rose Tobben Scholarship Fund at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School or Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Washington.

The Tobben family is being served by Nieburg-Vitt, Miller Funeral Home, Washington.