Obituary of Rosemarie Barbara Stockwell

Mrs. Rosemarie Barbara “Rosie” Stockwell, bid this life farewell at home on December 19, 2020. She was 91 years old. A private memorial service for Mrs. Stockwell will be held at a later date. Holman Funeral Home and Cremations of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. Rosie was born January 15, 1929 in Beuthen, Germany (present-day Bytom, Poland) to Erharda Ewalda Ferdynanda and Elfrydy Barbary Schaefer. Her early life was pleasant; close-knit family was well to do with a maid who Rosie was very fond of. Although, she often grumbled with a smile on her face that her mother favored her brother when they were young. She happily told stories of her childhood, including her pet chicken “Klotilda” and the parakeet that would eat the stiff paper collars of important visitors while they remained stoic, pretending not to notice, making young Rosie laugh. Life however did not remain idyllic; for a time, it turned to one of chaos and peril as World War II unfolded and raged on all around her. In the early post-war period, the family became refugees. They were given 15 minutes to pack a bag, allowed only to take what they could carry and then forced from their home subsequently spending months in refugee camps in dire conditions. She was 16 years old. In the process, the men were separated from the women and so she, her mother and her aunt were separated from her father and brother. Years later, the family was reunited when her aunt by coincidence ran into Rosie’s father on a bridge in the small town where the three women had settled after being released from the camp. The bravery and independence Rosie developed during this period would be evidenced throughout her life. She was a loyal, loving, strong, determined and no-nonsense woman. Some normalcy developed for her after the war with her marriage to Porter Cox, United States Army, and soon with the birth of her son, Frank. She immigrated to the United States of America and Rosemarie Barbara Cox became a U. S. citizen on November 16, 1955. She married Clarence Glenn Stockwell on May 7, 1975 in Donalsonville, Georgia. Glenn was an Army flight instructor with stories of also performing some clandestine drug enforcement operations in South America. Home was Mexico for a time also. Rosie took these adventures and separations in stride, once telling Glenn’s kidnappers, “keep him, I am not paying”. Fortunately, he later “borrowed” a plane and escaped. During calmer times, Rosie and Glenn ran Wheeless Airfield in Dothan, Alabama. She enjoyed the German Club on base and having coffee with friends on the front porch. Life stories and hearty laughs were aplenty. They eventually retired to Aurora, Colorado – Glenn’s home state, to a quiet life feeding squirrels and making home improvements. Traveling with their RV was a favorite too. Wherever they settled, Rosie made a home. Home cooking was a specialty. She was a master gardener, her flowers the envy of many. An excellent seamstress and not shy about creating works of art with knitting and crochet needles in hand as well. Family and friends benefitted in every way. Unfortunately, Glenn’s health soon declined, and Rosie’s love and devotion was evident in the care she provided. Glenn passed away August 19, 2001. Rosie continued to live in Aurora for several years, enjoying family and friends while she focused on providing wonderful care for and having conversations with her very protective dachshund, Seppel. In 2016, as Rosie’s health declined and her dementia increased, she accepted an invitation to relocate at first in her own home near and eventually into the home of her loving son, Frank and dedicated daughter-in-law, Beverly back in Ozark, Alabama – the place Rosie really considered “home”. Rosie will be deeply missed and forever respected for her firm but loving nature as well as her courage and endurance. So we say “Auf wiedersehen” to our cherished mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Rosie was preceded in death by her husbands, Porter Cox and Glenn Stockwell. She is survived by her son, Frank Schaefer and wife, Beverly; grandson, Randy Schaefer and wife, Ashley; granddaughter, Gina Blunt; great grandson, Henry Schaefer and great granddaughter, Autumn Lopez; and her brother, Ted Schaefer.