Rosemary Rosie C. Schaeffer Gast

Rosemary “Rosie” Cecelia Gast, 84, of Davenport, died Saturday, June 4, 2011 in Davenport. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at The Runge Mortuary. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.therungemortuary.com

Rosie was born December 8, 1926 in Davenport, the daughter of William and Theresa (Mandel) Schaeffer. She married Eugene J. Gast on February 28, 1945 in Davenport; he preceded her in death on December 8, 1975.

Rosie graduated from Davenport High School in 1945. She had a few different employers thru her life, but, retired at 72 from Bawden’s Printing Co.

The love of her life was her music. Playing accordion from the age of ten, she joined The Arlen Moeller Band at age 16 where she met her husband, Gene. After the war, they organized their own group, The Swingster’s. She was the oldest member of The Musicians Union Local #67. She was considered one of the finest accordionists in the Quad City area and had even performed with the Quad City Symphony. Her music knowledge was so extensive that anyone could name an old tune and she would play it for them within seconds.

Rosie was so loving and so giving that she adopted and/or found homes for over 600 cats in her life. Every animal she came across that needed help would be helped; she was lovingly known as the “cat lady.”

She is survived and lovingly remembered by her only son, Eugene “Skip” W. Gast, grandchildren: William L. Gast and his wife, Marjorie and Melody J. Clifford and her husband, Wayne; great grandchildren: Elora, Cecelia, Caelan, Warren and Moira; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Klapp and Jeanie Schaeffer along with her many nieces and nephews.

Her parents; brother, Al Schaeffer; daughter-in-law, Peggy Gast and many friends preceded her in death.