Rose Catherine Lange Wall

Rose (Rosie) Catherine Lange Wall, 75, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2024, surrounded by her family who loved her deeply, after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Rosie was born June 29, 1949 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Leslie and Bernice (Bauer) Lange. She was the eldest daughter of Les and Bernice’s 12 children. Rosie was a graduate of La Crescent-Hokah High School. Following graduation, she decided to devote her life to God by joining the convent to become a nun. After a period of time and many conversations with her Mother Superior, Rosie was advised that she may be better suited for a life raising a family. Family then became the center of Rosie’s life, but she lived and led her entire life with Christ in her heart and in her actions. The family joked and lovingly referred to her as “Holy Rose” after that. Rosie stayed active in her church throughout her life. She was a member of Saint Cecilia’s Circle at the Crucifixion Church in La Crescent, Minnesota, a Eucharistic minister and lector at Holy Cross Church in Dakota, Minnesota, and an active member of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

In 1972, Rosie’s father, Les Lange, died suddenly of a heart attack at 47, leaving her mother, Bernice with eight children at home to raise alone. Rosie became a huge support for her mother and a role model and second mother to the rest of her siblings at home. Rosie would have her mother and siblings over after church for breakfast or for an afternoon playing cards, backyard games, or a visit followed by a home cooked meal. Rosie was known in the family for making great food, especially her chicken chow mein, scotcheroos, potato salad and her special spaghetti with her secret ingredient.

Rosie had a great love of life, a tremendous work ethic, and a caring soul. If anyone was ever in need, she was there to listen or provide any help she could. As the years went on, her sisters voted her “the most Bernice like,” an honor any of her children would have cherished. She worked hard to provide for her family, sometimes having a couple of jobs simultaneously. She ran an in-home daycare called Rosie’s Country Daycare, worked for Franciscan Mayo Homecare and Hospice, and provided in-home care for clients. With all her jobs, the main theme was caring for others, which she excelled at. 

Rosie raised four children, supported them through college, and celebrated as they all graduated and found careers in their field of study. She guided and watched each of them choose wonderful spouses, marry, and become parents themselves. She deeply loved her children and grandchildren, and they loved her. Rosie took immense pride in their accomplishments and made it a priority to be present and celebrate with them. 

On 11/29/2003, Rosie and Ron were married in Dakota, MN and started their new life in the “smurf house”. They spent many years with their trivia friends and family near Dakota, MN. In 2016, after a couple of years into retirement, Rosie and Ron moved to Maplewood, MN to be closer to her children and grandchildren. For the past seven years, Rosie and Ron would spend their winters in Apache Junction, AZ, where they bought a second home in the Lost Dutchman Park. 

Rosie loved playing cards, dancing, bird watching, spending time with friends, crafts with her Arizona craft friends, making Christmas pajamas, going to Ron’s musical performances, and attending many different events for her grandchildren. Some of her best memories came from different trips with her family, family coming to Arizona to visit, and hosting for the different holidays. But the best memories were when you could get Rosie laughing hard enough that she would snort. Regardless of how busy she was, every year, you could expect a singing telegram from Rosie on your birthday, a call to all those who served on Veterans’ Day, and a call to congratulate you on another year of marriage.

Rosie’s legacy is best shared through the special moments her kids and grandkids will remember forever. From traveling to Indonesia, Paris, and Spain with Jeff to meet Cindy’s family, annual cabin trips to the Hazelton’s cabin, celebrating her and daughter Janel’s birthday every year by picking strawberries and making pies, and the many different travel adventures Janice would come up with each year.

She is survived by her husband, Ron Wall; children Jeff (Cindy) Bursell, Jen (Corey) Hazelton, Janel (Doug) Surgenor, Janice (Todd) Berguetski; her grandchildren Kaia, Mila and Liam Bursell, Sophia and Jack Hazelton, Peyton, Jaelyn and Austyn Surgenor, Emma, Leah and Allyanna Berguetski; her siblings, Ray Lange, Judy Mueller, Donna Johnson (Stan Johnson), Joan Kor (Keith), Kathy Lange, Dan Lange (Michelle), Deb Trynowski (Shane), Mike Lange (Patti); sister in-laws Lois Lange and Linda Lange; and many cherished nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Les Lange; mother, Bernice Lange; brothers Jim and Rick Lange; sister Sharon Feran; brother-in-law Bruce Feran; and nephew Ronnie Lange.

In celebration of Rosie’s life, a Christian funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Church of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Paul, with visitation at 12:30 PM. We will be having a small burial ceremony at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Dakota, MN, where Rosie will be inurned.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made in memory of Rosie to Minnesota Franciscan Catholic Retreat Center in Prior Lake, MN. This retreat center was a special place for Rosie, where she would spend one weekend a year immersed in spiritual connection and renewal for over 30 years. Donations can be made online at https://franciscanretreats.net/make-a-gift