Rosie Muelken, a lifelong resident of Prior Lake, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at the age of 87. A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 19, 2017 from 4:00 –7:00 PM at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 20, 2017 at 11:00 AM with visitation one-hour prior at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake. Father Xavier Goulet will preside and Peter Muelken, Kelsey Smith, Craig Carlson, Georgia Muelken, Charlie Juell and Patrick Bailey will act as pallbearers. Rosie will be laid to rest at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery.
On October 1, 1929, Rose Marie Cates was born to Earl and Catherine Cates. Rosie loved growing up in Prior Lake, and especially enjoyed fishing, playing in the trees and discovering fossils and collectable rocks.
A child of the depression, Rosie passed along an ethic of being happy with simple pleasures. She learned generosity from her mother Kit. Drifters from the nearby railroad tracks would arrive at their doorstep asking to trade work for a meal. They didn’t go away hungry. Rosie always had a soft spot in her heart for those who were down on their luck and needed a friend.
In her teen years, Rosie and her Auntie Alice set off on travels, driving across North America. Their journeys took them to Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and the Canadian Rockies, sparking her interest in travel and the world.
Rosie attended grade school in Prior Lake and graduated from Shakopee High School where she was the Valedictorian and Homecoming Queen for her class. After high school, Rosie attended a teacher’s college in Le Sueur. She earned her degree and began a teaching career.
George Muelken, Jr. “Spike,” a local boy, emerged as her true love. They were married on June 21, 1952. Just two weeks after their wedding, Spike was drafted to fight in the Korean War. While he was away for two years, Rosie continued to teach in the area, including schools in Credit River, Prior Lake, and Savage.
In the subsequent years, while raising six children, she occasionally found time to pursue her interest in gardening, reading, and studying local history. Rosie’s Celtic heritage came through in her love of words and writing poetry. She had an innate ability to create a poem on any topic at any time, which revealed her lively wit and sense of humor.
Always the teacher, Rosie instilled the value of life-long learning to her children. She often provided instruction on the wonders of the natural world and the peculiarities of human nature. She wanted her children to be independent thinkers. A classic quote from Rosie to her kids was “Don’t trust anyone, not even your mother.”
After Spike’s passing, Rosie moved into a home on the land her grandfather once farmed and to be near St. Michael’s Church. She attended church daily in later years and made rosaries for others with the Rosary Makers group.
Rosie was kind and loving. She was a strong woman with a gentle soul. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Connie (Scott) Carlson, Larry (Renee) Muelken, Susan (Chuck) Jahr, Judy (Dan) Bailey, John (Maureen) Muelken, and Carol (Brian) Juell; grandchildren, Craig (Yelena) Carlson, Cait (Brad) Tupa, Kelly (Anthony) Schumacher, Emily Muelken, Peter Muelken, Kelsey (Mitchell) Smith, Mary Bailey, Patrick Bailey, Brenna Bailey, Charlie Juell, Madeline Juell, Patrick Juell, Georgia Muelken, Ellen Muelken, Margaret Muelken, Monica Muelken; great-grandson, Theodore Smith; siblings, Kathleen (Henry) Schrader, Bill Cates, Jim (Pat) Cates, Larry (Betty) Cates; sisters-in-law, Arlene Cates and Nancy Simon; other loving relatives and many dear friends. Rosie was greeted in Heaven by her husband, George “Spike” Muelken; parents, Earl & Catherine Cate; siblings, Anna Mae Ryan and Jack Cates.
