With the spirit of an angel and the heart of a lioness, Rose was born on September 2, 1955 in Salt Lake City to Eric and Adeline Weisser Gunther. She grew up in the Holladay area adoring her older sister and brothers. She was a self-described tomboy and learned to love everything about nature and the outdoors. She loved to ride her horse “Shield”, ranging far and wide around the Knudsens Corner area near her home. She attended Bonneville Junior High School and Cottonwood High School where she served as cheerleader, excelled at gymnastics, and participated as a dance club officer. At Cottonwood she was chosen as queen of the junior prom. Her classmates and friends were very fond of her. As an adult, she worked for nearly twenty years with Southwest and SkyWest Airlines, serving as both a reservations and gate agent. She found great delight in her career which was reflected in the high quality of her work. Her affiliation with the airlines permitted her family to travel and cultivate warm memories and relationships with each other.
On June 24, 1976, Rose married Jeffrey James Hawker and began a forty-five-year companionship filled with fun and love. From this marriage were born Kari (Nicholas) Diaz and Heather (Richard) Homer. Rose is survived by her husband, daughters, and granddaughter Emilia; sister Patricia (Larry) Olson and brother Eric (Julie) Gunther. She is preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother and sister-in-law Ron and Louise Andrews Gunther. Rose was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Rose was selfless to a fault. She quietly fulfilled others’ needs without expectation of thanks or reward. Her happiness, joy, and love of life were irrepressible. One could not be around her and not feel happier and buoyed up by the experience. Most importantly, to the very end Rose was a loving and nurturing wife and mother. Her children were her pride and joy. She loved them dearly. She also treasured her time with her granddaughter Emilia. And she was, as many friends and relations have proclaimed, a woman without guile. Her husband and daughters aspire to her example.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Big Cottonwood 4th Ward, 5565 S Neighbor Lane, Holladay, Utah 84117. An evening visitation will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah 84106 and from 9:45-10:45 AM prior to the funeral service at the church. In consideration of all guests, the family requests that funeral and visitation attendees please wear a mask. The interment will occur Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff at LDS Hospital and Encompass Health for their care and compassion.
Serving as pallbearers are Nicholas Diaz, Richard Homer, Benjamin Hawker, Matthew Renlund, Daniel Homer, Dylan Rector, Rhett Bonner and Michael Renlund.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wasatchlawn.com for the Hawker family.
