Rose Marie (Schleuger) Gerdes of The Township Senior Living in Battlefield, MO, passed away Monday, August 29, 2022, at 69 years of age.

She was born October 17, 1952, to Henry and Marie (Watson) Schleuger in Mason City, IA, and grew up on a farm outside of Britt, IA.  She graduated from Britt Community High School in 1970 and then attended Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA.  She was recognized as Outstanding College Athlete in 1973 for softball and tennis.  She graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Physical Education major.

Rose was united in marriage to Roger W. Gerdes on July 12, 1975, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Britt, IA.  They lived on a family farm in Crystal Lake, IA, where their two children, Jamie and Nicholas, were born.  In May 1980, they moved to Fair Grove, MO, where she worked as an Adaptive Physical Education Teacher at the Exceptional Co-Op with Bolivar R-1 Schools.  She was recognized as an Outstanding Teacher by the Missouri State House of Representatives two years in a row.  In 2006, they sold their house in Fair Grove and moved to Pleasant Hope, MO.  After 27 years of teaching in Missouri, she retired in 2007.

When her kids were growing up, Rose was a little league baseball coach, Sunday school teacher, cub scout and girls scout leader, and she organized Special Olympics in the area.  She loved gardening, fishing, traveling, and spending time with her three grandchildren.  She enjoyed watching her grandchildren play basketball, football, soccer, tennis, and wrestling.

Rose is survived by her children Major (USAF Retired) Jamie Ka’auamo of Republic, MO, and SMSgt (USAF Retired) Nicholas (Lindsey) Gerdes of Nixa, MO; grandchildren Kekailoa Ka’auamo of Las Vegas, NV, Kaleb Gerdes of Nixa, MO, and Kaleialoha Ka’auamo of Honolulu, HI; brothers Darold (Sondra) Schleuger and Dan (Julie Lentz) Schleuger; brothers-in-law Robert Gerdes and David (Cynthia Steenlage) Gerdes; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents Henry and Marie Schleuger, father-in-law Ernest Gerdes, mother-in-law Rose Gerdes, husband Roger, brother Glenn Schleuger; brothers-in-law Thomas Gerdes, Mark Gerdes, and Richard Gerdes; sisters-in-law Vanessa Follman, Janet Gerdes, and Jackie Schleuger; nephew Ricky Schleuger and great nephews Brad Zuehl and Colby Schleuger.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to American Legion Post 434, P.O. Box 27, Nixa, MO 65714 and/or American Legion Post 1214, P.O. Box 14826, Springfield, MO 65814.

Memorial Visitation will be Saturday, October 1, 2022, 10:00 am – 11:00 am at Nixa American Legion Memorial Post 434, 591 McCroskey St, Nixa, MO 65714.