Rose Gerdes

Rose Gerdes, age 93, of Atchison, Kansas, died Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Atchison Senior Village.

Services will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026, at St. Benedict Church, beginning with a parish rosary at 10:00 AM, followed by visitation. Mass of Christian burial will begin at 11:00 AM with Fr. Jeremy Heppler, OSB, as celebrant. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, and a lunch will be served at St. Joseph Church lower level, 801 Spring Garden St, Atchison, KS, following the burial rites. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Benedict’s Abbey. Cremation care entrusted to the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home. 

Rose was born September 20, 1932, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of Fritz and Georgia (Gearhart) Hagen. She attended Sacred Heart and St. Benedict’s Schools before graduating from Mount St. Scholastica Academy.

She was a member of St. Benedict Parish. Rose formerly served as a waitress at Pineview Country Club. She was employed with the Manhattan City Library until her retirement at the age of 75. Rose enjoyed golf, walking, fishing and going to the casino.

She is survived by a son, John (Sandra) Gerdes, Wichita, KS, three daughters, Pamela Adamson, Atchison, Leslie (Joe) Laviana, Dunedin, FL, Kristin (Tony) Hyde, Leavenworth, KS, a sister, Barbara Surritt, Atchison, KS, twelve grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and great-great grandchildren.

Rose was preceded in death by a son, Joseph Gerdes, her parents, a granddaughter, Adina Adamson, and two brothers, Don Hagen and Fritz Hagen.