Rose Anita (Spannan) Caswell

Rose Anita (Spannan) Caswell began her journey through life on May 15, 1917 in Iowa City, Iowa. She departed this life June 21, 2015. Rose is survived by two sons (SMSGT Ret.) Michael (Kathy) of Jacksonville, Ark., Patrick of Elbert, Co.; two daughters, Kathy Geiger of Elbert, Co. and Karen (Larry) Constable of Thornton, Co.; Five Grandchildren; Seven Great-grandchildren; 2 Sisters: Genevieve Birchard of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Lucille Miller of Phoenix; 3 Brothers: Harold (Beverly), Leo (Joanne) and Robert (Edie) Birchard of Iowa and nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, “Chick”/ Charles Caswell, Grand-daughter Laurie Geiger and Son-law Ron Geiger, 1 Brother: Jason Birchard, 3 Sisters: Doris Megonigle, Rita Sigman, Barbara Lewis and Sister-in-law: Mardelle Birshard.

Rose graduated from High School at the age of 17 with top honors in Beloit, Kansas then attended Marymount Collage in Salina, Kansas. In 1943 she entered Officer Candidate School in Des Moines, Iowa.

Rose served in the U.S. Army in World War II, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant Womens Army Corps. While in the service she was an instructor – auto motive repair, transport officer and wheel vehicle maintenance officer. She received World War II Victory, WAAC Service Medal and American Defense Service Medals. She received an honorable discharge on February 13, 1946.

Rose was united in marriage to Chick on June 22, 1943 at Holy Rosary Chapel in Cascade, Colorado.

Rose was a long time resident of the Black Forest area and was a resident of St Francis Care Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the time of her passing.

She ran the dairy farm and in her spare time she was a seamstress, she did needle point, latch-hooking and crocheting. We can’t forget that she had a green thumb for gardening and her flowers - roses and iris plants.

Rose taught square dancing with Chick for many years. Rose was a 4-H leader for 15 years, a member of the El Paso Grange #480. She was a charter member of the Pikes Peak Chapter #75 Woman's Army Corps Veterans Association, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rose became active with the El Paso County Fair in 1954 as a judge and did volunteer work at the fair. She showed her Brown Swiss Cattle at the County and State Fair and took many top honors. Rose was very active at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to be made in the Memory of Rose, to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

The viewing will be at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, 11020 Teachout Road, Black Forest, Colorado on Tuesday, June 30th, 2015 from 5-6 p.m. followed by the rosary at 6:00 p.m.

A funeral mass will be offered on Wednesday, July 1st, 2015 at 11:00a.m, at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in Black Forest.

Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, July 1st, 2015, 2:15 p.m. Section C with military honors.