Rose Ann Mangskau, aged 90, of Albert Lea, Minnesota (formerly of rural Ellendale), died on Thursday, October 17, 2019, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Austin, surrounded by her family and friends.
Rose Ann (Anderson) Mangskau was born on February 23, 1929, to Eddie Joseph Anderson and Margaret Therese (Callahan) Anderson at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea. She attended Farry School, District 90, a one-room school, for grades one through seven. Because she started school one year late due to illness, her seventh grade teacher said that if she could pass the eighth grade test she could start ninth grade with kids her age next year. She passed the test and started ninth grade the following year at Ellendale High School (EHS) where she was the treasurer of the activity fund and worked on the annual and paper staff. She graduated from EHS in 1947.
On September 19, 1948, she married Alan Mangskau. They were inseparable best friends who worked side by side in all things, including farming, housework, baking, church work, and raising children and grandchildren.
Rose loved God and always strived to serve God and love others. She was baptized when she was a young adult and was a charter member of the Albert Lea Church of Christ (now called the New Life Christian Church). She was very active in her church, teaching Sunday School, going on trips with the youth group, making and serving food with the church ladies, and working at the church’s Live Nativity. She was known to say that the best advice she ever received was “love everybody.” Rose lived this principle on a daily basis, and continued it in her death by donating her body to medical research.
Rose’s work passion was farming with her husband, but during her life she also worked at Speed’s Store in Ellendale, was a waitress, volunteered at the NRHEG school library, and was a janitor for her church. Attending her grandchildren’s school events brought her great joy. Rose was happiest when surrounded by her family.
Rose is survived by her beloved sister, Harriet Harne; her four children: Barbara (Charlene) Engen-Mangskau, Lois (Bob) Snow, Duane (Barb) Mangskau, and David (Shelly) Mangskau; her 11 grandchildren: Lillian Bozonie, Robyn Snow, Heather Snow, Nathan Snow, Jessica (Eric Wilson) Mangskau, Zak (Teri Miller) Mangskau, Collin (Laura) Looby, Krystal (BJ Olson) Weiss; Mark (Ashley Hames) Mangskau, Matthew (Ann) Mangskau, and Nicholas Mangskau; her 10 great grandchildren: Malachi, Miles, Declan, Xander, Jayden, Lukas, McKenna, Isabelle, Korbin, and Eva; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Alan, her brother Lyle James Anderson, and her brother-in-law Floyd Harne.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. at New Life Christian Church (NLCC) on Friday, October 25, 2019. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2019, at NLCC. Memorials are preferred