Rosella “Rosie” (Schmidt) Holgersen
April 1, 2021
Rosella Esther Holgersen passed away on
April 1, 2021. Rosie, which was her nickname since her junior year of
high school, was a caring wife, sister, aunt, and friend.
Rosie was born on September 23, 1936 to
Tobias and Lena Schmidt at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton,
Kansas. She attended Candy Elementary School, followed by secondary
school at Berean Academy in Elbing, Kansas, and Bethel College in
North Newton, Kansas where she graduated in 1959.
Rosie earned a B.S. in Nursing in 1961
from the University of Oregon, and an M.S. in Nursing Administration
from Columbia Pacific University in 1986. She worked for 46 years as
a registered nurse and nursing administrator in Kansas, Oregon, and
Arizona, before retiring in 2005. One of Rosie’s most memorable
experiences was working as a nurse in Haiti at the Albert Schweitzer
Hospital for two years. She also loved being a member of the Women in
Business Association in Tucson, Arizona.
Rosie met her husband, Otto Holgersen,
in January of 1970, and they were married in November of that year.
During the 25 years they lived in Tucson, they hosted 30 foreign
students in their home, usually for two semesters each, while the
students studied at either the University of Arizona or Pima
Community College. They enjoyed helping them with their English and
with adapting to life in a new country.
Rosie and Otto enjoyed traveling
abroad. They visited Denmark, Taiwan, Japan, and China, always
returning with mementos which decorated their home. They loved
sharing their memories and experiences.
Rosie grew up in the Mennonite church
and was baptized into the Christian faith in June of 1952. She joined
the United Church of Christ in Tucson on July 2, 2017. Her favorite
hymns were In Christ There Is No East or West, and Blest Be the Tie
that Binds.
After Rosie retired in 2005, she
enjoyed working in her garden, helping at her church, and playing
with her three dogs.
Rosie is survived by her sister, Miriam
Claassen, brother-in-law, John Claassen, sister-in-law Mavis Schmidt;
one niece, Debi Vanwey, and three nephews, Roger Claassen and Cheryl
Martin, Bob and Shelley Claassen, and Mark Schmidt and Martha
Rubalcava; two grand nieces, Olivia Martin and Jessica Zavala, and
five grand nephews, Adam Claassen and fiancé Bailey Herzberg, Kyle
Claassen, Kevin and Michelle Claassen, Michael and Rita Mulkey, and
Joseph Zavala; and last but most precious, one great grand nephew,
Caleb Claassen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto, her
parents, Tobias and Lena Schmidt, and her brother and sister-in-law
Harold and Verna Schmidt.
Rosie was loved very much by her family
and she will be missed. We wish for her much peace in God’s love.
