Rose Mangskau, 1929-2019

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Rose Ann Mangskau, 90, of Albert Lea, formerly of rural Ellendale, died Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin surrounded by her family and friends.

Rose Mangskau

Rose Ann (Anderson) Mangskau was born Feb. 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 first through seventh grades. 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 the next year. She passed the test and started ninth grade the following year at Ellendale High School, where she was the treasurer of the activity fund and worked on the annual and paper staff. She graduated from Ellendale High School in 1947.

On Sept. 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.

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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 Albert Lea Church of Christ — now called 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; 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; 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; husband, Alan; brother, Lyle James Anderson; and brother-in-law, Floyd Harne.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at New Life Christian Church. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Memorials are preferred to New Life Christian Church.