Rosalie Jorgensen

1929 - 2014

Rosalie Jorgensen passed away April 26, 2014, after her long battle with diabetes. She was surrounded by family and her husband of 64 years when she took flight. 
Born in Mt. Moriah, Mo., to Leslie and Vernoye Gibler on Dec. 21, 1929 Rosalie was the first of three children. Rosalie moved to Sioux City, Iowa, as a child and later returned to Missouri. At age 15, her parents sent her to Hayward High in Oakland, Calif., to finish school. After high school she attended nursing school in Portland, Ore. 
Her dad moved the family to Fairbanks to find work in 1947. Rosalie got homesick for her family and followed them two years later, making the move to Fairbanks. Her dad worked a dragline out of Operating Engineers Local 302 and also worked many hours on the Dew Line. 
He was working with a young man by the name of Holger Jorgensen. Les invited "Jorgy" home for chicken dinner. Jorgy and Rosalie (affectionately nicknamed "GG" by her younger brother, Doyle) fell in love and started dating. On Oct. 4, 1949, they married. The first date they went on, Jorgy flew Rosalie to Circle Hot Springs in a two seater T-Craft. (Every girl should be so lucky.)
Rosalie's life was centered around taking care of her children. Jorgy worked out of Operating Engineers Local 302 and was already flying airplanes. Jorgy brought GG to Nome where he found work flying for Foster Aviation in 1949. They moved back to Fairbanks in 1950 and the family was started. In 1958, Wien Air Alaska moved the entire family to Point Barrow so Jorgy could fly DC-3s on the Dew line sites. In fall 1960, Wien Air Alaska moved the family to Nome so Jorgy could be a bush pilot. 
Eventually the family moved back to Fairbanks. Jorgy built their home in Graehl. The home was built before paved streets and before sidewalks existed. The house survived the 1967 flood and, with some remodeling, it was better than new. The house still sits in the same place with businesses that seemed to pop up from nowhere. GG loved this home and having kids and grandkids flying in and out the door to see her.
Rosalie was graceful and calm as a mother with a natural knack for art. One time she made cookies that resembled each child. The cookies were done with accuracy and each cookie was a piece of artwork. The children were astonished but ate the cookies anyway. 
She loved to go blueberry picking in the fall. Jorgy taught her how to cook moose meat and clean ducks. Jorgy taught her the Inupiaq traditional ways of cooking for her children. She could make moose heart stew or moose tongue stew with ease. It never fazed her when dad would bring home a moose. She just lined up the kids, and they prepared the meat for the freezer. 
She loved Alaska and all that Alaska had to offer. She was either plane sick or sea sick so couldn't go on many trips. She delighted when dad brought home halibut and scallops from Valdez. The kids line up to this day to clean and pack the salmon that dad brings home from Chitna. She had a great sense of humor and taught each of her children how to laugh. 
Rosalie loved all of the dogs and cats that the kids drug home. She was attached to her dogs over the years. Mother loved her animals and they loved her. 
Rosalie and Jorgy traveled after the children were raised. They made a trek to Norway to meet the Jorgensen side of the family. On the next trip, they toured the World's Fair in Japan. Later, Rosalie traveled to Hawaii with her sister. Rosalie was inseparable from her only sister, Loretta. The two did everything together, right down to sharing a Hershey bar. Rosalie had taken to Jorgy's four sisters, Martha, June, Thelma and Bing (Clara). To this day, they are still close.
She is deeply missed and the home in Graehl is empty for sure without her presence.
GG is survived by her husband, Holger Jorgensen, Sr.;  her only living aunt, Carmie Bradley; children, Irwin, Kathleen, Holger Jr., Noel and Roberta; her grandchildren, Bradley, Esa, Lindsay, Ellie, Andie, Sterling, Lauren, Kyle, and Bruce; great-grandchild, Mason, and one on the way, which will be Esa's firstborn child; her niece, Kandy; and her nephew, Gary. 
The entire family always called her "Grandma GG." She was rarely addressed as Rosalie. She was a wonderful grandmother and delighted with each new birth into the family.
She was predeceased by her parents, Leslie and Vernoye Gibler; her brother, Doyle Gibler, and her sister, Loretta Leslie;  her grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
GG rarely attended church but had a deep spiritual side to her. She fully believed in the Bible and all that the Bible taught. Often, she would quote the Bible. Her love of life and the love of her family is what kept her going even though she was sick on most days.
A warm and special thank you goes to Hospice and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. Without the help of the nurses, this transition would not have been easy. Their kind words and expertise showed each and every day. 
The family would like to give thanks to Alex, Bevin, Brooke, Elizabeth and Megan. A special thanks to Dr. Footit and to Dr. Bartling. The family appreciated and enjoyed the visits from Chaplain David. Each person on this team had their part in preparing the family to say goodbye to "GG."
Her children said, "Mother, you are gone from our sight, but you live in our hearts. We wish you a safe journey and would like to say 'Happy Mother's Day.' We Love you deeply and miss you so much."
If you would like to make a donation to honor the life of Rosalie Jorgensen, please make them to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Hospice.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, at 1208 Graz Ave. in Fairbanks.