Obituaries : Rosemary "Rosie" (Flickinger) Boisen

Rosemary "Rosie" Jean (Flickinger) Boisen, 79, passed away on July 31, 2024 at Virginia Gay Hospital following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be from 2-6 PM, Sunday, August 11, 2024, followed by a brief memorial service at Phillips Funeral Home (212 E 6th St.) in Vinton. A private family interment will take place at a late date. Memorials may be given to the Vinton or Shellsburg Fire Departments.

Rosie was the sixth of seven children born to the wonderful parents of Cecil and Norma Wilhelmi Flickinger on November 18, 1944. She was baptized February 1945 at Trinity Lutheran Church and remained a life-long member. She was raised a country girl and loved it. She received her education in the Vinton schools, graduating in 1963, and named 1963 "Female Athlete of the Year". She married Steve Boisen in 1965, but later divorced. They had two great sons, David and Jason, who were her life.

Rosie started working while in high school as a car hop at Vinton's Dog 'N Suds, then worked at Me Too Grocery Store, 19 years at State Bank of Vinton, and then retired after 29 years with United Fire & Casualty Company. Her insurance career involved personal and commercial underwriting, insurance education training, premium auditing, and was a commercial loss control/risk manager specialist. The latter two jobs had her driving over 900,000 miles (No Accidents!). Retirement allowed her to do more leisure travel to states she had missed through work, and she found a few wineries and antique shops along the way. She loved to drive the back roads and said, "no GPS can show you the good ole USA". She got to go back to Canada and then a brief trip into Mexico (three blocks to be exact) to have lunch.

Rosie said about her life, "Family growing up was important, but when I was diagnosed with cancer the day before my son Jason was born, the word important wasn't enough. Family was then absolutely everything to me and God gave me a good life to embrace them all. And I did. I barely missed any events of my son's activities in grade school, junior, and senior high and as they played football in college. Very proud of their achievements both scholastically and through their sports. I was also proud that they both became Volunteer Firemen. Then I became a grandma, and it was back to enjoying all that they did and also baking cookies together, playing board games, card games, the annual Easter Egg Hunt in my back yard and decorating the Christmas tree. I relished these times with Zach and Olivia. I was grateful they came 13 years apart, no choosing where to be at. I loved my "sister's week" each year, shopping and eating out in a different corner of Iowa each year. Antiquing was our favorite time. I bowled for 26 years on a team for Berry's Lanes, got a 608 series before hanging it up. I was proud to help organize a Big Brother & Big Sister unit for Vinton. I served two years as a board of directors."

She is survived by her sons, David (Melissa) and Jason (Tiffany); grandson, Zachary and granddaughter, Olivia; siblings, Wayne (Wanda) Flickinger, Karen (Dale) Hagen, and Kris (Bob) Birker; brother-in-law, Dennis Michaelson; sister-in-law, Sandra Flickinger; many extended family members on both the Flickinger and Boisen sides.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her "1972 Baby Angel", loving grandparents Elmer & Sadie Self Flickinger and Peter & Clara Wilhelmi, her parents; sister, JoAnn Michaelson; brothers, Ronnie and Larry; sister-in-law, Ruth Alcorn Flickinger, Patricia DeNeve Flickinger, Paulee Boisen, and Sandra Boisen; brother-in-law, Robert Boisen and Ron Bossler.

Through everything, Rosie always found the best in everyone, had a constant sense of humor, and had the gift to gab.

"Today I remember yesterday, so today I'll make it great for good memories tomorrow. See you all later." - Rosie

Online condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com