Rosetta K. Nerem

Rosetta Kathryn Franklin Nerem was the only child born to John Truman Franklin and Elizabeth May Klaus Franklin December 27, 1945, in Charles City, IA.

Rosetta said she was born in the best of times, right after WWII when America was the moral standard and dominant power of the world. She felt Charles City offered a fine, solid education, and she especially enjoyed playing the clarinet, taking top honors competing statewide.

Rosetta met her husband, Terry, through her college roommate, Vicki Nerem (Terry’s sister), at Luther College in Decorah, IA. Rosetta graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in teaching for music and Spanish.

Rosetta and Terry were married August 27, 1966, and have two precious daughters, Jennie Elizabeth, born in 1973, and Kathryn Florence, born in 1974.

Over her life, Rosetta developed many talents. She became an artist, specifically in sewing by creating hundreds of quilt designs over the years. She became a musician, with the ability to play a wide variety of musical instruments, including clarinet, piano, acoustic guitar, and many others. She was an avid writer, authoring several short stories. She was fluent in Spanish and spent her career as a junior high band director and high school Spanish teacher.

Her top talent, however, was being an incredible mom who supported both of her daughters in becoming competitive classical pianists, traveling thousands of miles with them for lessons and competitions. She took her daughters on many fun adventures, including summer road trips to visit their beloved Aunt Edna in Illinois and on long bike rides. She fostered in them a strong sense of leadership by getting them involved in 4-H and helping them every summer with their projects. When her daughters were young, she taught them to sing duets and accompanied them on acoustic guitar for public performances.

Rosetta lived in several communities, her teaching and Terry, most often, pastoring including: 1968 Spring Grove, MN; 1969 Webster City, IA; 1974 Algona, IA; 1975 Oelwein, IA; 1984 Peterson, IA; 1997 various villages in Mexico as missionaries; and 2000 Omaha, NE, with Abide (Hispanic) Network ministries. In 2001, Rosetta and Terry retired in McAllen, TX, where they continued their ministry at The Family Church (TFC).

At TFC, Rosetta was active in the Mugging Ministry, visiting first-time church attendees in their homes with a coffee mug and message of God’s love. She was passionate about her Recovery Ministry, where she held weekly Bible studies at a recovery center for women overcoming substance abuse. She and her grandchildren often baked boxed cake mixes weekly to bring along for dessert. (Rosetta disliked the kitchen but knew the fellowship meant a lot to the women she was serving.)

Rosetta also provided Spanish translation during TFC services and spread love and comfort to others through her quilts, including baby quilts for church newborns, mission quilts for immigrants and those in need, t-shirt quilts for graduates, and numerous memory quilts for grieving families from the clothing of a loved one. She was often known for calling the TFC church office and asking, “Are there any new babies expected? I’d like to make more quilts!”

Rosetta met her Heavenly Father and entered eternal rest Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, at the age of 76.

Rosetta said she had a good life and the Lord was faithful to her and her family, never leaving or forsaking them.

Rosetta is survived by husband, Terry “TW” Nerem of McAllen, TX; daughter, Jennie (Troy) Klein and their children, Logan (Pebbles), Kathryn, and Skylyn (Lozano) of McAllen, TX; daughter, Kathryn “Katie” (Bryan) Nermoe and their children Mallory and Lyndsey of Fargo, ND; and sister-in-law Vicki (Robert) Uhr of Longmont, CO.

The joy and love Rosetta poured into her quilts will be on display during the visitation and Celebration of Life Service. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own quilts made by Rosetta to display during the service.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2022, at TFC McAllen, 2322 N. McColl Rd., McAllen, Texas.

Celebration of Life Service: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2022, at TFC McAllen, 2322 N. McColl Rd., McAllen, Texas.

Graveside Service: 11 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2022, Valley Memorial Gardens, 3605 N. Taylor Rd., Mission, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, tribute gifts may be given to a project Rosetta was excited about, the TFC Tres Lagos Building Fund, through online giving, clickable link: www.tinyurl.com/4sn9m29u or check payable to “The Family Church” with “Tres Lagos Fund” listed in the memo.

Condolences may be sent to Terry Nerem, C/O Jennie Klein, 1404 Martin Avenue, McAllen, TX 78504.