Rose Gilger

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Rose Marie (Brauner) Gilger was born Sept. 14, 1943, to AMM2 Frank H. and Evelyn May (Schneider) Brauner in Rapid City, S.D. She grew up in Custer, S.D.   Rose taught herself to sew by making doll clothes. Using this skill, she made most of her school clothes as she got older. She learned to knit and crochet by watching her great-grandmother and mother. She was first clarinetist in the Custer High School band. Rose enlisted in the Navy Feb. 2, 1962—20 years after her father had enlisted. She was assigned to recruit training at RTC Bainbridge, Md., and the RM’A School at SSC Bainbridge. She met her husband, Harry, there. Rose transferred to NAS Brunswick, Maine, Dec. 3, 1962. She was advanced to RM3 Nov. 16, 1963. Rose and Harry were married Friday, Dec. 13, 1963, in Brunswick. Rose was released from active duty Jan 31, 1964. She moved back to Custer to have her first child. Ann Marie was born and died within hours in October 1964. Rose then joined Harry in Vallejo, Calif., and shortly after moved to Hawaii, where Frank was born. She then moved to San Diego, Calif., and Vallejo where Gary was born.  On to Bainbridge, Md., then Norwich, Conn., where she learned to drive, before moving to Pascagoula, Miss., where she became a secretary of the local LCMS church. While at Pascagoula she completed a correspondence course and became a “Doctor of Dollology.” One of her dolls was featured in an article in the Pascagoula newspaper about dolls made and given to the Salvation Army for Christmas gifts.   El Cajon, Calif., was her next residence. Here she became a volunteer and then paid classroom aide at Rios Elementary School. She helped her son Frank attain Eagle Scout. From there it was on to Newport News, Va., where she attained another milestone of COB’s wife. She assisted the wives of the crew on first USS Lafayette and later USS Alabama. After that she moved back to Groton, Conn., where she became secretary of the local LCMS church and helped her son Gary attain Eagle Scout. Rose’s last move was to Bremerton, Wash., with Harry on the USS Alabama. Rose became secretary of Peace Lutheran Church. She was diagnosed with MS in November 1987. She continued as secretary until July 1994. Harry and Rose sold their house in June 1998 and went full time RVing until October 1999. Rose was admitted to Martha and Mary Health Center in Washington in November 1999. If you count the years Rose was associated with the Navy, it is two years active duty and 27 as spouse. Many times she was left in an unfamiliar area to fend for herself as duty took Harry to sea. She handled these times graciously and with skill and managed to raise two boys.   Rose was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Susan. She is survived by husband, Harry; sons, Frank (Ann) of Belfair,  Wash., Gary (Celia) of Eau Claire, Wis.; granddaughters, Tabitha and Deanna; and grandsons, Nathan, Kyle and Brandon. Interment was at Tahoma National Cemetery with Memorial Services at Peace Lutheran Church and Martha and Mary. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either: Endowment Care Fund No. 1 c/o Peace Lutheran Church 1234 Riddel, Bremerton, WA 98310 or Martha and Mary Lutheran Services, PO Box 127, Poulsbo, WA 98370.