Rose Lee Johnson Kreiser, 88, of Knoxville passed away at home Monday morning, April 9, 2018. A 1948 graduate of Young High School, Rose left Knoxville to work for the U.S. Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. She met her husband of 52 years – Harold R. “Kris” Kreiser – in D.C. at a Lutheran Church group meeting. As a first-time guest, Rose filled out an attendance card with her name, phone number and address, which was collected together with others. She expected to be contacted about future services and events and wasn’t surprised when Harold Kreiser called. Months later she learned he had collected her card, but – quite uncharacteristically and a bit roguish – he kept it. They married in 1961 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Knoxville but returned to Washington where Kris was a supervisory landscape architect with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Rose an executive secretary in the Pentagon. She retired with 30 years of government service in 1986, and the couple moved to Knoxville. Kris died in 2013.
She was preceded in death as well by her parents, I.M. Johnson and Stella Ruth Ferguson Johnson. Through research completed by her niece Janis Kreiser Lamar of Potomac, Md., Rose recently learned her mother’s Tennessee roots are deep and historic. As a direct descendant of several persons who lived in Tennessee before 1796, Rose was officially recognized as a member of the First Families of Tennessee.
She was also a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the General Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.
Rose delighted in clothes, sparkles, shoes, homemade pie and, especially, cats – affections shared by Janis, who survives her along with beloved kitty-kats, Rusty and Tee-Kee. Other survivors include Kris’ brother Clifford L. Kreiser of Harrisburg, Pa., and many nieces and nephews. Rose also absolutely adored and appreciated all ‘her girls’ from Senior Helpers, who lovingly and attentively cared for her day and night and the expertise and responsiveness of the wonderful UT hospice team.
Friends may visit at their convenience Thursday, April 12, 2018, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway, Knoxville 37920.
A graveside service will be held Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Sattazhan Lutheran Cemetery, Jonestown, Pa. (Kris’ childhood church). Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.
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