Rosemary Shanks

Rosemary Shanks, age 77, of Bloomington, MN, formerly of Prior Lake, MN, passed peacefully on Saturday, February 1, 2025. 

Services will be held in the coming months. 

Born on August 15, 1947, to Kenneth and Margaret (Quirk) Michael, Rose was raised in Cleveland, MN, near St. Peter, and spent her early years growing up one of many children as a small-town girl. She briefly worked for St. Margaret's in Rochester before moving to Minneapolis to begin her career at Control Data.

Rose was a remarkable woman with a successful career, beginning on the production line at Control Data and quickly moving up to the office as a clerk. Working at Control Data, Rose met Anthony Shanks and they quickly developed a close relationship. They were married on October 30, 1971, and enjoyed 53 years together. Tony and Rose moved to Redondo Beach, California, for a brief period before returning to Minnesota to continue their careers. Rose attended business school for a couple years and then later worked for Data 100, bringing her incredible attention to detail and organizational skills to the forefront. As an Executive Assistant, Rose worked for Irwin Jacobs for an impressive 27 years, demonstrating her dedication and expertise. Her professional journey also included a role at Arthur Anderson Accounting, where her talent was recognized by a partner who brought her along to Jacobs.

Beyond her professional achievements, Rose was a devoted mother to three children, a grandmother to ten, and a great-grandmother to five. Despite her busy career, she always found time for volunteer work, notably with St. Francis and other organizations.

Rose had an unwavering love for travel, exploring all 50 states and venturing to Europe, Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, and Central America with their group of 7 friends and family, the Shanks. Her adventures were numerous, and she cherished every moment spent discovering new places.

A woman of elegance, Rose had a keen eye for fashion and a remarkable memory for details, including dates on the calendar. Her reserved and dignified demeanor was complemented by her beautiful penmanship and articulate prose, as seen in the letters and cards she wrote.

Despite her many accomplishments, Rose remained kind, caring, and soft-spoken, easy to be around and always ready with a great sense of humor. She was a loyal friend and partner and was a remarkably tolerant and accepting individual who was loved by all. Rose possessed an incredible ability to form lifelong friendships. Her patience and love were particularly evident in her relationship with Tony, for which she deserves a gold star for putting up with for all of those years!

She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and resilience. Her contributions to her family, friends, and community will be remembered and cherished forever.

Rose will be missed by her husband of 53 years, Anthony; stepchildren, Anthony Jr., Timothy, and Carole; 10 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; sisters, Sharon, Patsy, Peggy, Colleen, Joann, Barbara, and Lisa; brothers, Mark and John; and other loving family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Cheryl and Paula; and brothers, Steve and Greg.