Rosemary Stieglitz Zook

Rosemary (Stieglitz) Zook, 83, of Goshen, passed peacefully March 29, 2017 at her home at Waterford Crossing, due to a prolonged illness and complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Her husband and three children surrounded her bedside.

Rosemary was born in Milford on March 18, 1934, to Henry and Anna (Zimmerman) Stieglitz, and to a family of nine brothers and sisters, and many descendents, with whom she remained devoted throughout her life.

Rosemary married John Zook on June 7, 1958, in Goshen, and thus began a nearly-59-year partnership of love, respect, care and laughter.

Rosemary is survived by her loving husband John; her three children, Lori (Joe), Marc (Wendy), and Becci; and her six grandchildren, Sophia and Isaac, Rachel and Olivia, and Liam and Avery.  Also surviving are three brothers, Harley J. (Liz), William and James Stieglitz; and three sisters, Elizabeth (Jack) Scruggs, Frances (Eric) Schiller and Ruth (John) Hooley.

Rosemary is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, George, Lawrence and John Stieglitz.

Rosemary received her Bachelor’s degree in nursing at Goshen College and her Masters in Community Mental Health from IUPUI. Rosemary and John worked for four years with Mennonite Central Committee in South Korea at Mennonite Vocational School, where Rosemary served as school nurse and matron to 200 boys.  Many of them considered Rosemary to be their mother, among them dear friend and Korean son, Kwang-Eel (David) Suh. Later, Rosemary worked at Elkhart and Goshen General Hospitals, Goshen College and Oaklawn Hospital. She remained passionate about her vocation as a nurse her entire life.

Rosemary, along with her husband John, lived a life of faith, service and love in all realms: family, church and community. Together they enjoyed years of travel, bicycling, and loving and laughing with their strong circles of family and friends.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 2, 2017 from 3 to 6 p.m. and Monday, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., in the Koinonia Room at College Mennonite Church. An 11 a.m. Monday memorial service will be conducted in the sanctuary followed by a luncheon.

Burial will follow in Milford Cemetery, Milford.

Memorials may be given in Rosemary’s honor to the John and Rosemary Zook Scholarship Fund of Goshen College (for international students) or to the Oaklawn Hospital Foundation.