Great Grandmother Rose

"In  the sweet, by and by, we shall meet on that  beautiful shore".  The words of this song still bring comfort to my  Great Grandma, Rose Moser.
Even though she is 96 years old, confined to a rest home and no longer able to see, she still possesses a hope of meeting  her loved ones in heaven.
Grandma Rose is not a woman of fame or renown, but her  life is typical of our forefathers.

Rose Kellenberger married John Moser December 20th, 1916  in Bern, Kansas.
On January 1, 1918 a baby boy, John Milford was born.   Baby John died shortly after birth. Grandma  Rose mourned the loss of her first born.
Shortly thereafter they moved to a farm northeast of  Larchwood. In  the next eight years Grandma  Rose was blessed with  six children.

One hot July day the children entertained themselves playing with water from a wooden stock  tank near the windmill.  Fourteen month old Donald found himself a gallon pail to stand on in order to reach the water in the tank.  The other chi1dren were occupied with their play and garden nearby.  They missed him and started looking for him and found baby Donald in the water.  Seven year old Mariann took the child -From the tank to the house, where Grandma Rose was busy. Grandma Rose emitted a loud wail as she was handed her lifeless child. The family grieved. Grandpa John built the rough box to hold the tiny casket.

The family continued to grow, and in another eight years five more children were added. Grandpa John began to rely on the help of his oldest son John Nicholes now thirteen years of age.

One noon young Johnny was stricken with a severe stomach ache. The pain lasted several hours, and then Johnny felt some better. It was decided to take him to the doctor In Luverne, MN. The doctor operated, and found that Johnny's appendix had ruptured. His parents were informed that infection had set in, and that Johnny wouldn't live. Johnny suffered for three or four days. One morning at 3:OO Johnny called Grandma Rose to come over to his bed and said, "Mom I want to kiss you good-by. I'm going to heaven to play with the angels'. With that he died.

Three  years  later the last child joined the  family.   The family  was complete with thirteen children.  Yet the circle had been broken with the loss of three sons.

In  1940  Grandpa  John didn't feel very well.    It  was  in October,  corn picking time.  Grandpa John was stricken with  bad stomach cramps.  The pain was so severe he clawed grooves in  the plaster  wall  with  his fingers. Grandma  Rose  became  frantic.  Three  new doctors had recently set up practice in  Rock  Rapids. Grandma  Rose called all three and pleaded with them to hurry  to the aid of her husband.  The first Doctor to arrive took  Grandpa back  to  town.    They operated and found his appendix  had  ruptured.   In the ten years since young Johnny had died, new  procedures and medications had been discovered.  But despite  drainage tubes and sulfa Grandpa's conditions worsened.  Breathing  became difficult and the Doctor told the family chances of survival were slim.    After a visit and prayer from a church  minister  Grandpa took a turn for the better.  He recuperated and after many  weeks returned home.
In  1944 the oldest living son. Harry, was drafted into  the army  on  his 19th birthday. After training he was  sent  to  the island of Luzon in the Philippine.

On Memorial Day 1945 Grandma Rose received the message  that Harry had been killed by sniper fire on May 13th, over two  weeks before  the word of his death was received.  A  memorial  service was held a few weeks later with only Harry's picture to  remember him by.  In Sept. 1948 Harry's body was laid to rest here.
How did Grandma Rose overcome, it was her strong faith  that God was in command and that some day in the "sweet by and by"  she will meet her loved ones in a joyful reunion never to part again.