Rosemary Manoski

Rosemary peacefully passed from this life on October 26, 2020, in Shawnee, Kansas, with her husband and daughter at her bedside. Rosemary was born December 6, 1932 in Emporia, Kansas to Kermit and May Meek.  She graduated from Emporia High School in 1950, immediately attending nurse's training at Stormont-Vail in Topeka, graduating in 1953.  She began working as an RN in Topeka at the state hospital. A friend set up a blind date for her with John Manoski and they were married May 7, 1955 in Topeka.  When John completed his Air Force commitment, they moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania where Rosemary continued working as an RN.  Their daughter was born two years later and in February 1958, they moved back to Kansas, where their son was born and eventually settled in Shawnee in 1962.

Rosemary returned to work as a school nurse at Don Bonjour Elementary in Lenexa in 1966 and started the next year at St. Joseph's Grade School in Shawnee.  She worked at St. Joseph's as the school nurse until she retired in 1998.  She practiced nursing with love and compassion for all.

Rosemary was a loving mother, grandma and great-grandma and always had time for all of the kids, attending their sporting and school events as often as possible.  She and her friends loved to go to flea markets and antique shops, looking for unique finds, especially dishware. She and John liked to take road trips, and often went to Omaha to watch the horse racing at Ak-Sar-Ben. She continued to watch horse racing on TV when she could and loved to read mysteries. When she wasn't reading, she watched the Hallmark movie channel and crocheted, often giving handmade baby blankets as gifts to family and friends.

Rosemary leaves behind her husband of 65 years, John, her daughter Rosanne (Dan) Thiry of Gardner, grandsons Mike (Kara) Ensminger of Salt Lake City, and Mark Ensminger of Lenexa, and great-grandchildren Aiden, Calin, and Connor Ensminger, and Mather Cox, Avia and Kora Ensminger. She also leaves a step-grandson, Ray (Erin) Thiry and their children in Phoenix. Rosemary's son, Steve Manoski, preceded her in death.

Our family thanks Advent Health Shawnee Mission and Interim Hospice for their care and for guiding us through this process. We also want to recognize the time and work that Mark invested in helping care for Grandma. We are thankful that he was able to help and chose to do so.

In line with Rosemary's wishes and considering the COVID pandemic, no services will be held.  A Mass will be held in her honor at St. Joseph's at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heartstrings Community Foundation, 11599 S. Ridgeview Rd., Olathe, Kansas, 66061 or www.heartstringscf.org .