BOONE, Iowa— Rose Mary Kempe, 86, of rural Boone, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Bethany Life in Story City, with her family by her side.

Cremation has taken place. There will be a gathering of friends and family from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, April 12, 2024, at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel, 1006 6th Street, Boone.

Rose was born in Boone on June 16, 1937, the daughter of Paul and Matilda (Reinsch) Keller. She attended Mackey School through the eighth grade and graduated from Sacred Heart School in Boone.

Rose was employed by Sunstrand in Ames for a number of years. Along with Rose’s longtime friend, Nancy Hunter, they started their own commercial and new construction cleaning business in Ames. With her love of antiquing, Rose also operated a seasonal antique shop, Bittersweet N Berries, out of a chicken coop on her acreage near Boone with her daughters and daughters-in-law. She enjoyed being a part of several shop hops and loved catching up with her customers.

Besides her love of antiquing, other hobbies and interests included quilting, flower gardening, baking, cooking, all while watching and feeding our feathered friends. Rose always looked forward to and loved spending precious time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a grandson, Nicholas.

Rose is survived by her sister, Shirley (Wesley) Smith; her five children, Tom Mather, Ed Mather, Arla Mather/Brzezinski, John (Anna) Kempe, and Nicolle (Jerome) Kempe; ten grandchildren, Michelle (Geoff), Michael, Jackie (Nolan), Joanna, Jonathon, Joshawa, Madeline (Kieran), Rylin, Jeanette (Nate) and Jacob; four great-grandchildren, Chloe, Charlotte, Lennon, and Poppy; three nieces, Lorie, Theresa, Sara and a nephew, Wayne.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Rose’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com

Rose Kempe, 86, rural Boone, Iowa and Bethany Life in Story City, Iowa