ROSE MARIE SVAJLENKA CHALK, age 99,
of New Knoxville, died peacefully in her home at 5:30 A.M. on Saturday, February 17, 2024. She was born on January 7, 1925 in Durand, Michigan, the daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Janik) Svajlenka. On April 14, 1951, she married Murry E. Chalk, and they shared 53 wonderful years together until his death on April 4, 2005. Surviving are her children: Deborah (Bob) Kruse of New Knoxville, Anne (Tim) Hegemier of New Knoxville, RoseMary (Brad) Wietholter of North Carolina, Carol (Preston) Meyer of New Knoxville, Lisa (Thomas) McCloskey of South Carolina, Kevin (Melanie) Chalk of Minster, a daughter in-law Kathy Chalk of New Knoxville; her twenty two grandchildren, thirty five great-grandchildren, and a number of cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, special neighbors and friends. Along with her parents and husband, Rose was preceded in death by her son Stan Chalk, and her siblings: Irene (Harold) Stiles and Marguerite (Carl) Tony, along with her in-laws Homer and Sadie Chalk and brother-in-law Chester (Elizabeth) Chalk.
Rose was a graduate of Durand High School and furthered her education attending business college and flight attendant school in Denver where she met Murry. Their military life took them through Illinois, Alaska, and Florida. Civilian life started in Indiana followed by a 1967 move to New Knoxville, Ohio. Murry and Rose shared a great life of hard work and fun times, raising a strong and faithful family. Together they enjoyed dancing, traveling, horse racing, golf, bowling, and summer family camping trips. Rose had many talents. She was an excellent seamstress, gardener, puzzler, crafter, and game player. She was a life-long sports enthusiast beginning with playing women’s softball and baseball; then following her children and grandchildren’s sports. Outside of being an excellent mother and homemaker, she had been the manager and cook of the former Adolph’s Restaurant. She helped establish Main Street Station in New Knoxville where she was well known for her cabbage rolls and daily specials. Rose had also been a Cub Scout den mother and a busy Girl Scout troop leader for a number of years taking the girls on trips to Washington D.C., Gatlinburg, and Chicago by bus and train. These trips were financed by hard work with recycling and community projects. She had been on the Appleseed Ridge Council for many years and was a dedicated leader at the migrant day camp for which she received the Girl Scout USA Appreciation Award. She was also past president of the St. Mary’s Soroptimist Club and American Legion Post 444 Auxiliary. Rose’s Catholic faith was an important part of her life. She was an active member of the Church of the Holy Redeemer in New Bremen where she was the former head of the St. Ann’s Alter Sodality. She loved her family dearly and cherished the time they spent together.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 10:30 A.M. the Church of the Holy Redeemer in New Bremen with Rev. Fr. Mark Hoying officiating. Interment will follow in the Pilger Ruhe Cemetery of New Knoxville. Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M. at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and again on Saturday, at the church, from 9:00 until 10:00 A.M. Memorial contributions in Memory of Rose can be made to the Grand Lake Hospice or to the Church of the Holy Redeemer. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family on the funeral home website: www.gilberghartwigfh.com.