Rosemary Geraets, 94, of Dell Rapids passed away on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls. Her Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 3, 2018 in St. Mary Catholic Church, Dell Rapids. Interment will be in the St. Mary Cemetery. Casketbearers were her grandchildren. Visitation with the family present was from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The Christian Wake was at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Kahler Funeral Home. A family rosary will follow the wake.
Rosemary Schwebach was born on September 4, 1923 at Dell Rapids, SD, the daughter of John and Caroline Schwebach. She grew up in the Dell Rapids area and attended school at St. Mary Catholic School. Rosemary worked as a nanny for many area families before moving to Denver. She returned to Dell Rapids and married Ray Geraets on September 4, 1946 at St. Mary Catholic Church. Once married, Rosemary and Ray made their home in Sioux Falls for five years before moving to a farm near Colman for 2 years. Finally in 1958, they moved back to Dell Rapids. Once back in Dell Rapids, she worked as a local waitress, in the hospital and nursing homes in town, and various other jobs. Ray passed away in 2001. In her retirement Rosemary worked as a senior companion, a job she thoroughly enjoyed. Rosemary was able to live on her own until her death.
Rosemary was a member of St. Mary Church and Altar Society, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Moose Lodge in Sioux Falls.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband and several siblings.
She is survived by her children, Jackie (“Skip”) Tool of Dell Rapids, Mark (Darlene) Geraets of Custer, and Doug (Nancy) Geraets of Dell Rapids; her 8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; her brother, Jack Schwebach of Dell Rapids; her sisters, Barb (Vince) Ahlers of Plymouth, MN and Carolyn (Denny) Drew of Dell Rapids; her sister-in-law, Dee Salviola of Dell Rapids; her special friends, Bob and Judy Wittrock of Sioux Falls and her many nieces and nephews.
The family has requested that memorials be directed to St. Mary’s or the Ava’s House Hospice.