Rose C. Arendt

Funeral Services for Rose will be held at 11:00am on September 23rd at Anderson Funeral Home with Deacon Tony Pasko presiding. Visitation will be 10-11:00am with a luncheon following the funeral service. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Rose Cecilia Arendt, 102, of Alexandria, MN passed away with loving care on September 4, 2023, at Edgewood Assisted living in Alexandria.

Rose Cecelia Arendt was born on February 4, 1921, to Morris and Caroline (Speckart) Widmer in Highland, Illinois. She graduated from St. Paul H.S. in Highland and Rubicam business school in St Louis. Rose worked in St. Louis where she met Robert J. Arendt while he was a dental student at St. Louis University. They were married February 20, 1941, in Highland, Illinois.

Rose and Bob moved to Alexandria, MN, in Oct. 1946 to set up a dental practice after Bob returned from WWII Army service in Europe. They raised seven children in the home they had built on Lake Cowdry. Rose was always busy with family life and the many extended family reunions at the lake.

Rose's lifetime memberships were St. Mary's Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, American Legion Auxiliary and Al-Anon. After the children were raised Rose worked at the dental office and kept the front desk running smoothly. Upon Bob's retirement they remained in their home on Lake Cowdry and spent many winters in Lake Worth, Florida. Rose continued to drive there along with women friends after Bob's death August 7, 1995. The following year Rose got her wish to move into town and had many years of active independent living before she needed assisted living care at the age of 102.

Rose is lovingly remembered by her surviving family; sons, Joe Arendt, William (Shirley) Arendt, Tom (Jeanne) Arendt, John Arendt; daughter, Mary Jane (Bruce) Black; daughter-in-law, Sherry Arendt; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Philip Arendt and Jerry Malmgren as well as many nieces, nephews and her many friends. Those who knew Rose will fondly remember her dramatic "Wonderful!!!" whenever she was pleased.

Rose was preceded in death by her husband Robert of 54 years; parents; brothers, Fred, Joe, and Cletus; sisters, Florence, Lil Kerin; daughter, Annie Ivins; son, Steven; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth; and great-grandson Emmitt.

The family is grateful for the kind nurses and staff of Edgewood Assisted Living, the comfort care from Douglas County Hospice and for Rose's faithful friend LuWanna Hintermeister and special caregiver LuWanna Olson.