Rosemarie TerHark, 89, of Lena, passed away Dec. 12, 2021, at Freeport Memorial Hospital. Rosie was born on June 21, 1932, in Chicago to Hans and Marie Petri, who were immigrants of Germany and Saxony. Her family moved to Lena in 1939. A graduate of Lena High School, she attended Highland Community College, and Wittenburg University in Ohio.
She married Lowell TerHark in Shannon in 1953. After Lowell’s service in the army, they farmed with Lowell’s father in Shannon for many years raising registered dairy cattle. Rose began news reporting for channel 23 in Rockford in 1969 until her retirement in 1994. She especially enjoyed reporting about local farm agriculture stories and tried to include positive, encouraging stories about “good things” happening in her community.
She served on many committees in the area. She loved music and played in the Freeport Concert Band. She taught horsemanship classes for HCC and was secretary for the State Saddle Horse Association. She was very interested in alternative energy and writing music and poetry. In 1998, she and Lowell moved to Lena, where they enjoyed retirement until Lowell’s death in 2014.
Rose enjoyed spending time with friends & family and made elaborate holiday dinners. Most of all, she enjoyed her grandchildren and was a wonderful “Omie”.
Rose is survived by her three children, Steven (Laurie) TerHark, Heidi (Cody) Calzavara, and Dan (Gabriela) TerHark, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Lowell, her parents, and her stepbrother Hans (Edith) Petri.
Visitation was on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, from 10-11 a.m. at Leamon Funeral Home in Lena.
Funeral Service followed on Dec. 18, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Leamon Funeral Home in Lena. Officiating was Reverend Rick Bader
Memorial has been established in her name.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.leamonfh.com
