Elmer Rosenow

Elmer (Swede) Emil Rosenow, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed on in the early morning of Friday, February 15, 2008 as a result of a stroke. Mr. Rosenow had been staying at Knute Nelson nursing home, in Alexandria, while he recovered from surgery for a fracture. Funeral services were held on Friday, February 22, 2008 for Mr. Rosenow at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alexandria with the Rev. Wade Meyer officiating. Organist was Lila Rosenow and Joyce Rosenow was the soloist. Burial was at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Long Prairie. Elmer, known as Swede by many of his friends, was born in the family granary on January 28, 1922 in Round Prairie Township, Todd County. At the time of his birth his parents Charles and Bertha (Busacker) were building their farm home. Elmer grew up working on the family farm and attending Greenwood country school. When he was ready to attend Long Prairie high school Swede went to live in town with the Jake Wienhold family. Swede worked at Hart Press until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November 1942. Following basic training he went to submarine school in Connecticut. He joined the crew of the U.S.S. Skipjack in 1943 and served in the Pacific, aboard that submarine, until the end of 1945. After the war Swede became a member of the American Legion Post in Little Sauk. On June 2, 1946 Swede married the love of his life Marie (Etzler). Swede and Marie milked cows, gardened, raised crops, and cared for the farm where Swede was born until they retired in 1994 and moved to Alexandria. During his career as a dairy farmer Swede was a leader in the dairy industry. Because of that he was asked to serve as a director for the AMPI cooperative board and on the Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council. He was a Pioneer seed corn representative for many years and, during his early years, helped contractor Joe Taubert on construction projects in Long Prairie. Swede also served as a Round Prairie Township supervisor for nearly two decades and took great pride in his public responsibility. He also served Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Prairie as a school board member, elder, usher, and Men's Club member. Swede loved his two children, Janice and Steve, and was always generous to them. It was one of his great pleasures to go fishing for sunnies with his little girl and, perhaps, a neighbor after evening chores. In later years he was there to help his daughter build her home. When he was building the house he often joked he'd cut a board off twice and it was still too short. Swede loved working with Steve on all kinds of mechanical projects and he took great pride in all of Steve's accomplishments. In his retirement years he took great pride in working at Steve's manufacturing business in Nelson. Swede also loved and took great pride in each of his three grandchildren. He enjoyed sharing stories about World War II with them and, with their help, built up a library of books about WWII history. Swede enjoyed making beautiful cabinets and furniture for Marie. In the old days they loved to stay up late playing cards with their neighbors. They also loved to go for Sunday drives and short road trips. Together they collected wild flowers for Marie's beautiful dried flower projects. Swede loved a joke and in his later years would visit with his friends at the Corral in Nelson. There he would swap the most recent Ole and Lena jokes for tales about the amazing foolishness of Iowans. If you were new to the group he'd say he liked his coffee so strong a spoon would stand in it. Then he'd show you by making a spoon stand up in his coffee cup. Swede will be missed by everyone who loved him because of his good humor, generosity, and decency. He is survived by his wife Marie, of Alexandria, children Janice King (Tim) of Clotho, Steve Rosenow (Char) of Nelson; three grandchildren, Colin King (fianc�e Anna Canning), Minneapolis, Danielle and David Rosenow of Nelson; and his brother Orval Rosenow (Marianne) of Grey Eagle. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Bertha, his brothers Roland and Rueben, and sister Holdina. Pallbearers were Colin King, David Rosenow, Ron Wienhold, Darrell Connell, Jim Chlian, Bob Olson, and Ernie Unruh. Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home.