Brenda K. Rose-Nelson, beloved wife and aunt, 67 of Rockford IL, passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon, January 14, 2025. She was born on November 3, 1957, in Rockford as the second daughter to Eugene D. and Marilyn J. (Skyles) Rose. After graduating high school and attending Rock Valley College, she met the love of her life and married Mark Nelson at Our Saviors Lutheran Church on
November 2, 1985, to which she would jokingly say she woke up “both old AND married.” She spent most of her years working as a receiving manager at K-Mart & Sam’s Club and later became known as the Hot Dog lady outside Sam’s when she wanted to slow things down. Brenda loved being a fur-baby Mom to Beanie and Yadi, spending time outdoors boating, traveling with Mark and friends in the RV, fishing for walleyes, and rooting for her favorite team – the St. Louis Cardinals. When she wasn’t watching a game, or one of her infamous crime shows, you’d be sure to catch her baking and sharing what she made with others; her breads, cookies and pretzel sticks were desired by every loved one at holiday gatherings.
Laughter was always present when Brenda was near and her magnetic personality will be missed by all her family and friends: husband, Mark; siblings, Deborah Rose, Steven Randall (Esther) Rose, Shareen (James) Rose-Winkleman; an abundance of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Eugene in 1989 and her mother, Marilyn in 2017.
A visitation will be held on Friday January 24th, 2025, at 10:00 am at Advantage Funeral Home, 7000 West State Street, Rockford, IL 61102. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am, followed by the burial thereafter at Willwood Burial Park. Please feel free to share your memories and condolences at www.advantagerockford.com
