Rosemary Clelland, 85, of Hiawatha, KS, died on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Life Care Center in Seneca, where she had been a resident since May 2009.

Rosemary was born in Hanover, KS, on January 17, 1926 to Oscar and Clara Pascha Gerleve. She grew up in the Hanover community and graduated from Hanover High School.

On July 3, 1946, she married Robert B. Clelland in Topeka. After marriage the couple farmed in the Fairview and Hiawatha area for 25 years. She raised her family and later cooked for Nicoma’s restaurant in Hiawatha. The couple moved to Seneca and she cooked at the North Side Café and also worked for Crestview Manor care home as a cook. In 1979 they moved to Topeka where he worked for Hill Haven. Robert and Rosemary celebrated 54 years of marriage before his death on September 8, 2001.

She was a past member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Fidelity. She enjoyed being a mother and relished going to the casino and playing cards.

She is survived by six sons, Charles Clelland of Michigan, Robert, Rick, Randy, David, and Steve Clelland, all of Topeka; four daughters, Susan Hockaday of King City, MO, Carol Clelland of Ottawa, KS, Helen Kneisel of Hiawatha and Lori Wetzel of Bern, KS; a sister, Helen Floyd of Boise, ID; 28 grandchildren; 66 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Louis Clelland on October 16, 1981; and siblings, Oscar Jr., Louis, Eddie, Jim, Mary, Leona and Evelyn.

There will be a visitation from 6 to 8 PM Friday, July 15, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The funeral service will be 10 AM Saturday, July 16, at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Goff.

Memorials may be left in Rosemary’s memory for the Life Care Center Activity Fund, and sent in care of the family.