Rose Marie Slavik Hunt was born October 18, 1925 in Diagonal,
Iowa to John
and Anna (Bata) Slavik and was the eldest of their
seven children. She graduated from Mount Ayr High
School with the class of 1943. She was employed with
the Security State Bank where she made a good friend Estelle Hunt. One of Estelle’s brothers stopped into the bank in his Coast Guard
uniform to cash a check. After he left, Rose asked who he was and Estelle
invited Rose to the family farm to meet him. The two soon fell in love, and Rose
and Elvis Ellsworth (Pink) Hunt were married on October 12, 1947. They made
their home southeast of Redding, farming and raising eight children.
Their marriage and family were the focus of Rose’s
life, even after Pink’s death in
2000.
Rose loved working outside
in the garden and caring for her Guernsey milk
cows and chickens. Possums and raccoons found near the hens were not safe from
her wrath. She was known for her cooking skills and many in the community
enjoyed her sugar cookies, pies and pickles. Sunday dinners were fried chicken
or pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh bread, and green beans,
tomatoes, carrots and corn from the garden, topped off with homemade rhubarb,
apple or pumpkin pie and homemade ice cream. She knew every kid’s favorite dish and made sure to prepare it when they
visited, including animal-shaped pancakes for the grandkids.
Her work ethic was second
to none. In the morning she was the first to rise and the last to bed in the
evening, rarely sitting down in between. She could take hot pans out of the oven
with her bare hands and walk for miles on gravel without wearing her shoes.
Her greatest joy was her
family, and she delighted in the many visits of family and friends. She was a
long-time member of Middle Fork
Church and served for
decades as treasurer. She loved attending services and the monthly church
suppers, talking with members and neighbors and tasting dishes that others had
prepared. She enjoyed exchanging recipes, and at a recent family gathering was
pleased to note that everyone had brought a dish which originated from one of
her recipes.
Rose came to live at Clearview Home in Mount Ayr in December of 2011 where
she received exceptional care. She passed away at the Des Moines Mercy Hospital on September 3rd, 2013
at the age of 87.
Left to cherish her memory
are her children Anna Campbell and husband James of Frankfort, OH, Robert Hunt
and wife Deidre of Grant City, MO, Richard Hunt and wife Peggy of Denver, MO,
Katherine Murray and husband Robert of Chillicothe, OH, Connie Leech and husband
Greg of Beatrice, NE, Larry Hunt and wife Colette of Kansas City, MO, Sandra
Horne and husband Lonnie of Chicago, IL, and George Hunt and wife Lynnette
Knight of Mount Ayr, IA.
Surviving grandchildren are
Angela Serpe, Holly Vaughn, Jordan Hunt, Brian Hunt,
Rachael McElvain, Allison Hunt, Matthew Murray,
Jennifer Prososki, Jeremy Leech, Ashton Banta, Trey
Hunt and Will Hunt and great grandchildren Grace, Kate and Lilly Serpe, Derek Vaughn, Adriana Hunt, and Carleigh, Brennan and Mylee McElvain.
Rose is also survived by
sisters Mildred Briggs and Jeanne Schlapia, and
brothers Lonnie Slavik and wife Marilyn, Frank Slavik and wife Marilyn, Stan Slavik and wife Judy, and Jim Slavik and wife Colleen, sisters-in-law Estelle Hall, Mary
Lou McCormick, Marilyn Simpson, and Helen Hunt; and brother-in-law Amon Hunt.
She will also be sadly
missed by numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
Preceding Rose in death
were her parents, beloved husband Pink and infant daughter Beverly
Sue.
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Graveside Services and
Interment were 10:30 A.M. Saturday, September 7, 2013 at the Middle Fork
Cemetery in Redding, Iowa. Bill Armstrong officiated. Prught-Dunfee Funeral Home was in charge of arrangement.
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