
Rose Marie Unrein
1941 – 2025
Rose Marie was born November 9, 1941, to Herman and Marjorie (Youngers) Hemberger in Conway Springs, Kansas. She left for her heavenly home on January 13, 2025. She married Gerald (Jerry) Unrein in 1964 in Great Bend, Kansas. They were married 54 years before his death. During their marriage they moved from Great Bend, Kansas to Shawnee, Kansas and then retired at Lake of the Ozarks. They enjoyed retirement there for 19 years before his death in 2019. After being widowed, she moved to Edmond, Oklahoma to be near family.
Rose Marie graduated from Conway Springs High School and Newman University with a bachelor degree in Medical Technology. She worked nearly 28 years as a laboratory scientist and then began a career in Medical Laboratory sales for Baxter Dade and Abbott Laboratories for 11 years and retired in January 2001. She was an active choir member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, and an active member of the Kappa Tau Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. She resided at Mon Abri Chateaus in Edmond.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gerald Unrein, her parents and her brothers Monsignor Robert Hemberger and Father Kent Hemberger. She is survived by her children: Kevin (Janet) Unrein of Shawnee, Kansas, Patrick (Susan Ali) Unrein of Mission Viejo, California and Lisa (Brett) Anderson of Edmond, Oklahoma; her siblings: Glenn and Susan Hemberger, Dale and Mary Hemberger, Ginge and Gerry Kettenbach, David Hemberger, LaVada (Unrein) Gjerstad and Ginger Unrein, Lee and June Unrein; her grandchildren: Trevor (Paisley) Ali, Chelsea Embree, Logan and Mackenzie Unrein, Max and Lindsey (Unrein) Jenks, Tara Anderson and Brooke Anderson, great grandchildren: Palmer, Emerson and Callahan Unrein, and Hadley Jenks.
Throughout her life she enjoyed singing in the Greater Lake Area Chorale and Lake Notes at Lake of the Ozarks and church choirs at her parishes, participating in and organizing fashion shows, volunteering and supporting Dress for Success, sewing on many personal and home projects and taking long walks. She loved working at Thrift stores that benefited the poor, most recently Hopefully Yours. In addition, she loved the performing arts and volunteered at the Oklahoma Civic Center as an usher. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and traveling with her children on vacations and excursions. Family was the heart of her existence.
A wake service will be at the Matthews Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, January 17, 2025, beginning at 6pm. The Funeral Mass will be at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 18th. Interment will be at the Ascension Catholic Cemetery in Bel Aire, Kansas where other members of the family lay at rest.
Memorials are suggested to the Catholic Social Services, The Hope Center of Edmond, or St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in lieu of flowers.
The service will be live streamed. To watch the service please follow this link: Rose Marie (Hemberger) Unrein Funeral Service – January 18, 2025, 1:00 PM
While my sister battled cancer, Rose Marie sent her a card in the mail every single day. This was in addition to her phone calls, visits, and prayers. Rose Marie truly lived her faith.
Our deepest condolences to the family. This is a wonderful tribute to Rose Marie who was always so kind. We will keep her and you in our thoughts and prayers.
Rose Marie lived a life of quiet dignity, unwavering strength, and compassion for others. She leaves a mark on many. Her Kappa Tau sisters love her.
What a beautiful woman with a singing voice for our dear Lord. May Rose Marie rest in peace.
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Rose Marie. I knew Rose Marie from the lab in Great Bend. She was a great leader and I will treasure her always.
Your mother was a wonderful woman, devoted to all of you. Elegant, funny, fun, smart and so talented. I loved sitting with her in Chorale rehearsals because she found such joy in making music. I will miss her very much.
Rose Marie had a beautiful service to send her on her final trip. I will miss her. She was truly one of the best.