Rose Anne Poldberg, the daughter of Kie and Ina (Kemp) Petersen was born January 22, 1930 in a snow storm accompanied by 30-below-zero temperatures at her parents’ home in rural Shelby County, near Jacksonville, Iowa. Because of the extreme weather, the local doctor was unable to attend the birth and Rose Anne was delivered by her namesake, Aunt Rosie Petersen. Rose Anne passed away peacefully listening to her favorite hymns at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa on June 14, 2020 at the age of 90 years, 4 months and 22 days.
Rose Anne was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. She attended rural schools and graduated from Harlan High School in 1948. Rose Anne attended Normal School Teacher training and taught at country schools in Shelby and Audubon Counties for several years.
On June 26, 1949, Rose Anne was united in marriage to James Lewis Larsen (1929-1988) at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. Rose Anne and Jim were blessed with four children: Brent (1952-1977), Joni (1954), Jordan (1957), and Ryan (1965). Jim followed a winding career path including farming, TV tower installation and repair, and carpentry. Rose Anne was a homemaker while the children were young but did occasionally substitute teach. In addition, she provided day care for dozens of children in Fort Collins, Colorado and Kimballton, Iowa.
In 1980, Rose Anne became the librarian in Kimballton, a position she held for more than 35 years. Rose Anne’s sister Phylis claims Rose Anne knew the location of every book by memory. The Kimballton Library was the gathering place for coffee, fellowship, and reading for many years. Rose Anne was also the Assistant Postmaster for the City of Kimballton for several years. Rose was an avid baker and won awards for her cinnamon rolls. She also loved crafts and was famous for her Danish woven hearts.
Rose Anne was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir. She also served on the Elk Horn Kimballton Community School District board of directors. Later in life, Rose Anne became quite a performer and during the 1983 Kimballton Centennial brought down the house with her rendition of “Second Hand Rose” with a nod to the local Burt the Plumber. Her real crowd pleaser was “O Lord It’s Hard to Be Humble,” sung in her deep lady’s baritone. Rose Anne loved contemporary music, constantly singing “What’s New Pussycat” by Tom Jones to her children. Ryan had “the honor” to accompany Rose Anne to see Kenny Rogers in 1980 at the Iowa State Fair, because every teen dreams of attending a first concert with his mother. Now that one evening is a cherished as a life memory.
On July 5, 1995, Rose Anne married Robert Poldberg (1928-2014) at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton. Robert and Rose Anne made their home in Kimballton and traveled extensively in the early years to California, Arizona, and Wisconsin. Rose Anne doted on her new extended family and many great meals were shared. In the early 2000s, Rose Anne loved to play lottery scratchers and was selected for a Las Vegas trivia game show on two occasions, once winning the show’s top prize that day, finishing one question from the million dollar prize. She had to risk her current winnings for the big prize and wasn’t 100 percent sure of the answer. After the show, Rose Anne told the game show host what she thought was the answer and he smiled and nodded his head yes.
Rose Anne was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Larsen; her husband, Robert Poldberg; her son, Brent Larsen; her parents; her brother, Thomas and wife Doris “Janie” Petersen; and her brother-in-law, Merlin Miller.
Rose Anne is survived by her children: Joni and husband Steve Christensen; Jordan and wife Pam Larsen; Ryan and wife Stacie Larsen; step-daughters: Susan Hoegh, Connie and husband Paul Lykke, and Anne Bendz; sisters, Phylis Miller and Barbara Larson.
Rose Anne’s seven grandchildren each shared a favorite memory of her. Taunya and Amber Larsen retold the story of a car crash where Rose Anne was driving in a snow storm and lost control of the car, and the car went airborne like a Dukes of Hazard vehicle after jumping a field entrance. Bryce Hancock recalls fondly the only in-ground pool in Kimballton that Grandma filled with water for the kids to splash around in. Chelsie Hancock says her favorite memory was making home-made ice cream with grape juice to make purple cow ice cream cookies. Erin Larsen remembers being a Library assistant at the Kimballton Library learning all about the “family business.” Cooper Larsen remembered that Grandma always had Tootsie Pops at the Kimballton Library, and Davis Larsen retells the story of Grandma’s crooked middle finger that she would innocently hold up for all to inspect while explaining that it was the result of a classmate sitting on her hand as a youngster. Rose Anne had nine great-grandchildren, as well as step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 11:00 A.M. at the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton with Pastor Bill Rollins officiating. Inurnment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton. Please feel comfortable dressing in summer casual attire, and feel free to bring lawn chairs to the service. Immediately following the service, friends are welcome to join the family at the Kimballton Park for a time of food and fellowship.
Memorials are preferred to the Kimballton Library, 118 N. Main St. Kimballton, IA 51543.
