Rosa "Rosie" Dreesen

Rosa “Rosie” Ernestine (Steffen)  Dreesen, age 90, of South Yankton, Nebraska, passed peacefully Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Arbor Care Center in Hartington, Nebraska.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 9:00 AM on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Constance, Nebraska, with Reverend Jim Keiter officiating.  Burial will be at a later date in St. Joseph Cemetery in Constance, Nebraska.  Visitation with her body present is from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, April 12, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Constance, Nebraska, with a rosary and vigil service at 7:00 PM.   Visitation will continue on Saturday one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington, Nebraska.

Pallbearers will be Joe Dreesen, Jeff Dreesen, Jimmy Dreesen, Robert Dreesen, Marty Dreesen, Chip Dreesen, and Michael Dreesen.

 Rosie was born on August 31st, 1933, to Joseph and Dorthea (Asbre) Steffen of Constance, Nebraska. Rosie attended school in Constance until the age of 12, when she began attending Holy Trinity in Hartington, NE. Rosie cherished her time with “Pop”, on their drives from Hartington to Constance on Friday afternoons and loved to reminisce on her younger days. It was at the Cedar County Fair in 1950, through her brother Danny, where Rosie and Kenny sparked a lifelong love. 

 After graduating in 1951, Rosie and her sister, Theresa, moved to Portland, OR, where their sister Maggie was living. The two worked various jobs including picking strawberries, canning in a pea factory, and working as clerks at Montgomery Wards. During this period, Kenny was drafted, passing through Washington en route to Korea, with an attempted farewell from Rosie and Theresa (who skipped work at Mongomery Wards that day). Rosie returned to Constance shortly after, homesick.  

 Upon return from the war, Kenny asked for Rosies hand in marriage on May 11th, 1954, followed by a wedding in the living room of the Steffen homestead on August 11th, 1954, and a road trip honeymoon to Pine Bluff, Wyoming the next day. Rosie and Kenny began their family shortly thereafter; having their eight children between 1955 and 1966. Kenny began managing a truck stop in South Yankton, purchasing in 1956. The family owned and operated Kenny’s 24hr Service until 1976. In 1978, they purchased the Lazy D’ Saloon, running the business until 2010 when the doors closed after the final last call. 

 Rosie lived her life for her family; being the proudest, yet humble, matriarch there could be. As a devout Catholic, she wondered what Heaven would look like; remembering her sisters, brother, husband, and friends – looking forward to the day they would meet again. Always providing a listening ear, a comforting eye, a warm hug. An incredibly strong woman, she will be dearly missed by many. 

 Rosie is survived by many of her loving family including eight children: Joe (Conney) Dreesen of Omaha, Nebraska; Jeff (Julie Strong) Dreesen of Yankton, SD; Pam (Les) Jones of Crofton, Nebraska; Jimmy Dreesen of Charlottesville, Virginia; Robert (Gwendollyn Gout) Dreesen of New York City, New York; Marty (Barbra) Dreesen, of Columbia, South Carolina; Chip (Marta) Dreesen of Santiago, Chile; and Michael (Mary) Dreesen of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 16 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and two brothers, George “Georgie” Steffen of Omaha and Jimmy Steffen of Constance. 

 Rosie was preceded in death by her husband, Kenny, parents Joseph and Dorthea Steffen, siblings Freddie, Danny, Maggie, Helen, Theresa, Margie, and Dolores.