Rosemary Genevieve (Cowan) Puls, 98, of Davenport, Iowa passed away Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Manor Care-Utica Ridge, Davenport. A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 15, 2021 at Weerts Funeral Home. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. until time of service.
Rosemary was born on October 15, 1922, in Lyndon Station, Wisconsin to John J. Cowan and Genevieve (Mooney) Cowan. She was raised on a farm in Lyndon Station and graduated from Mauston High School in 1941. She came to Davenport by train with her best friend, Jeanette Coughlin and worked at the Rock Island Arsenal during the war production years of WWII.
She met the love of her life, Leroy Puls on a blind date while he was home on leave after completing his 44 missions with a B-17 bomber crew while stationed in Great Britain. They adored each other and were married on September 7, 1946 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Lyndon Station, Wisconsin and their union lasted 48 years. They were members of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Davenport. He preceded her in death on December 6, 1994.
Rosemary enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Some of the things she loved to do most was dancing, and she loved to read. She had quite a collection of books. She also had a love for music and she had quite a collection of record albums as well which included country, standards, and of course the big band era. She and her husband loved traveling back up to her Wisconsin family every now and then during the holidays. Her favorite thing of all was having her grandkids spend the night.
She was known as a great neighbor mom while we were growing up and known throughout the neighborhood for her legendary homemade buns. Many of the former neighborhood kids can attest to that and they still like to share that memory about “Rosie’s buns” and how lucky they were to have tried them. That’s the kind of person she was, a caring and sharing individual. She was always there for her family through the years and she will be dearly missed.
Rosemary is survived by her daughter, Terre (Rick) Leonard, Davenport, Iowa; sister-in-law, Evelyn Cowan, Mauston, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Miller Puls, Davenport, Iowa; five grandchildren, Kevin (Lacy) Plym, Ottumwa, Iowa, Aaron (Lisa) Leonard, Le Claire, Iowa, Cara (Jim) VanAcker, Davenport, Iowa, Kelly Plym, Davenport, Iowa, and Keegan (Cassandra) Puls, Swedona, Illinois; six great grandchildren, Kiley and Brady Leonard, Le Claire, Iowa, Sire, AriAnna, Santino Esquival, Davenport, Iowa and Beauxdy Puls, Swedona, Illinois and all of her nieces and nephews.
Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Puls, her parents, John J. Cowan and Genevieve Cowan; her daughter, Kathy Plym; her son, Tim Puls; her sister, Lenore Powers her infant sister Lois; her brother, John P. Cowan; her brother-in-law, Michael Powers and her grandson, Sean Leonard.
The family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Tami Wells for guiding her through her health issue and to Dr. Shobha Chitneni, oncologist for helping give her more years we could ever hope for her while she fought cancer. She had a nice long run. And to Manor Care, Utica Ridge and to all of the staff, nurses and nurses aids for their excellent care they gave Rosemary during her stay there.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
