Rosanne Girres

Rosanne Girres was born June 10, 1936, the 6^th of 16 children born to George and Ruth (Meyers) Finnegan, and passed away on March 6, 2024. She graduated from Ruthven High School in 1954. After high school Rosanne worked at the café in Ruthven, the courthouse in Emmetsburg, and as a lifeguard at Five Island Lake while attending Emmetsburg Junior College. Rosanne was a teacher in the West Bend school district after receiving her certification. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa where she received her BA and Masters degrees.

Rosanne married Max Girres on August 22, 1959 in Ruthven, Iowa. Rosanne and Max moved to Grundy Center, a place they have called home for the last 64 years. It was in Grundy Center they started their family.

When Rosanne and Max moved to Grundy Center, she taught various grade levels and then transitioned to special education for the rest of her career. She had a passion for teaching and strived to provide individualized learning strategies for her students to maximize their abilities.

Rosanne was a lifelong educator and loved being a part of her community by serving on the Kling Memorial Library Board and using her Master Gardener training to help arrange flowers for the main street planters. She was also involved with PEO, Historical Association Society, Meals on Wheels, assisting students find jobs at the Iowa School of the Blind, and the Social Justice Community at St. Gabriel’s.

Rosanne loved to spend time with her friends at workouts, coffee, book club, and bridge. She adored her LITS (Life is too Short) group and looked forward to celebrating with them. At home, Rosanne loved following the Grundy Center Spartan athletics as well as high school and college sports. She also enjoyed her daily Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune programs while perusing multiple newspapers.

Rosanne and Max loved their years in Grundy Center. They enjoyed taking part in a variety of community activities and special celebrations. The stories they shared with their family are evidence of the connections they’ve built with others and the love and joy it’s given them through the years.

Rosanne greatly valued communication with the Girres and Finnegan families. She loved interacting with them and keeping updated on their various activities. Rosanne cherished all family events including holidays, birthdays, and life milestones. She took great pride in celebrating the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. The family attributes all these successes to the guidance, wisdom, and life lessons that Rosanne and Max instilled in them.

Rosanne is survived by her husband of 64 years Max; three children: Scott (Denise), Jill, Molly (Chad); five grandchildren: Curtis (Alexandra) Baker, Joshua (Shelby) Baker, Jared (Meghan) Girres, Alexis Bruns, Brock Bruns; Great-grandchild: Emil Baker. Siblings Dave Finnegan, Pat Finnegan, Mike Finnegan, Raymond (Patricia) Finnegan, Roger (Darlene) Finnegan, Dennis Finnegan, and Fran (Dennis); sisters-in law Nancy Finnegan, Jan Finnegan and several nieces and nephews.

Rosanne was preceded in death by her infant children Jeffrey and Baby Girres; her parents; her sister Mary; her brothers; Philip in infancy, Bob Finnegan, Tom Finnegan, Ken Finnegan, Jim Finnegan, Albert Finnegan, Dan Finnegan; her in-laws Joe and Viola Girres; her sisters-in-law; Ellie Finnegan, Alice Finnegan, Margie Finnegan, Doris Finnegan, Liz Finnegan, Cecelia Finnegan, Jane Finnegan; Patricia Kliegl; Janis Brennan; her brothers-in-law Duane Pitcher, Ed Smith, John Kliegl, and Tom Brennan.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made to the Kling Memorial Library in Grundy Center, or the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Rosanne’s memory.  

"For those that wish to watch online, they can go to the St. Gabriel parish website & click on the Facebook icon about 5-10 min before 11.  (Even if they don't have Facebook they should be able to get in this way) 
https://holyfamilycatholicparish.dbqarch.org/
 or go to our Facebook page. Holy Family Parish of Iowa."