Robert J. ‘Bob’ Rose
June 2, 1941 – January 2, 2008
Robert J. ‘Bob’ Rose was born on June 2nd, 1941 in Chatfield, MN. He was the son of Robert 'Bob' and Bernice 'Bea' Rose, a sign painter and school cook. Bob was very active in sports, a stand-out in football and baseball. He was also very active in band playing the French Horn. He graduated from Chatfield High School in 1959, and continued his education at Winona State University, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelors Degree in Social Studies and English.
Bob started his teaching career in Grand Meadow in 1963. In 1964 he accepted a teaching position at the Kasson-Mantorville High School where he taught History and English for 33 years, retiring in 1997. Even after spending 33 years in his classroom teaching, he continued to work with the kids as Athletics Director for the Kasson-Mantorville School District up until he retired completely from the school district in 1999.
On June 25th, 1966, he married Mary Lee Asleson in Fortuna, North Dakota.
In 1968 he started his law enforcement career as a part-time police officer, making $2.50 per hour for the Kasson Police Department where he served until 1977. He accepted a position as a part-time Deputy Sheriff with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office in 1981 and served there for the next 18 years, retiring in 1999. Following 31 years of law enforcement in Dodge County and Kasson, he continued to help at the Sherff’s Office as a transport deputy for the courts. He served the Sheriff’s Office in this capacity unil late in 2006 when his disease started to progress.
Mr. Rose equally loved both his law enforcement and teaching careers. He would often say that if he hadn’t of become a full-time teacher, he would have been a full-time cop. A very smart and highly educated man, he could have done anything he wanted to do for a career and made a lot more money. Instead, he chose two careers where he felt he could make a difference.
Mr. Rose was very involved in the community throughout his teaching and law enforcement careers and known by everyone, having taught in some cases 2 and 3 generations in the community. He was active with city festivals. He umpired girl’s softball and coached youth and high school baseball for many years. He was a member of the National and Minnesota Education Associations, SE Minnesota Peace Officers Association, Sons of Norway, St. John’s Lutheran Church, and the local Lions Club.
Mr. Rose’s interests included sharing jokes, fishing, traveling, literature, studying history (especially The Civil War), scenic drives to the Mississippi bluff country, listening to music, playing the French horn, trumpet and banjo, following local school sports as well as the Twins and Vikings, spending time with his family, children, and grandchildren, and of course, professional wrestling.
Mr. Rose, 66 years old, of Kasson, died Wednesday January 2nd, 2008 at St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester after a long battle with diabetes.
He is survived by his wife; his four sons, Scott (& Rosie) of Kasson, Todd (& Amber) of Mantorville, Mark (& Jeffra) of Fresno CA, Christian (& Ruth) of Ames IA, Mark; his five grandchildren, Eddie, Alex, Devon, Cooper, and Madison; and his nephew Ron Erickson and his wife Carla from Apple Valley MN. He was preceded in death by his mother Bernice ‘Bea’, father Robert ‘Bob’ and his sister Nancy Erickson.
He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and community!
