Rosetta Clara "Rose" Hodge, 81, rural Union Star, Missouri, passed away late Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Rose was the first of eight children born to Henry J. and Theresa E. (Miller) Gronniger. She was born October 12, 1942 at home on a farm her parents rented then about a half-mile west of St. Benedict's Church (located southeast of Denton and southwest of Bendena in Doniphan County, Kansas).

She attended grade school at St. Mary's Catholic School in Purcell, Kansas, and Denton Grade School, in Denton, Kansas. In May, 1960 she graduated from Midway Rural High School on Highway K-20 between Bendena and Denton.

After graduation, she attended nurse aide training and worked at Sisters Hospital in St. Joseph. She was a live-in nannie for a St. Joseph family, a bookkeeper at a St. Joseph garage operated by one of her many Miller cousins, and finally settled in at First National Bank, later Commerce Bank, in St. Joseph, from which she eventually retired.

She attended church in Union Star and loved being a member of that faith community. Rose sewed for many years and crafted blankets and baby albums for her great-nieces and great-nephew. She was an avid 35 mm film photographer, delivered Meals on Wheels, and was a good cook, often trying new recipes for side dishes and desserts for family dinners. She dropped off and picked up her brothers at the Kansas City Municipal airport when they came home on military leave. She took her two youngest sisters to Royals games and shopping in Kansas City and other places. She liked to fish creeks and farm ponds when she was younger. She rode with a motorcycle club for a time. Her first car was a green 1955 Chevy.

Rose and David Eugene Hodge married on May 4, 1974 in St. Joseph. They lived in St. Joseph initially, then moved to a house in rural Union Star before building their own home on a parcel of the Hodge farmstead. Dave, or "Gene," if you prefer, preceded Rose in death. He passed away at their home sometime on October 6, 2023, after having visited Rose in the hospital. They were a good team.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother (Gary L. Gronniger), a sister (Anita L. Ricke), brother-in-law (William A. Ricke), and parents-in-law (Cleo and Thelma Armfield Hodge), and a multitude of other relatives.

She is survived by two stepchildren (Richard Hodge and Sandra (Hodge) Neff); two sisters (Frieda M. Gronniger and Denise C. Gronniger), and three brothers and their spouses (Dennis H. and Ann (Schieber) Gronniger; Damian E. and Eileen (Hutfles) Gronniger, and Daniel J. and Kimberly (Newton) Gronniger)), six nieces, four nephews, four great-nieces, four great-nephews, and a plethora of first and second cousins.

Memorial service Friday November 3 at 10:30 AM at the Union Star, MO United Methodist
Church. Burial at a later date.