Rose Marie Zaruba

Rose Marie Zaruba, 95, of Fullerton, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, at Stanton Health Center in Stanton.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fullerton. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fullerton. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, followed by a 7 p.m. vigil service. Palmer-Santin Funeral Home is serving the family.

Rose Marie Zaruba was born on March 22, 1930, to Frank and Caroline (Lesiak) Knopik on the family farm near Fullerton. She attended country school through the eighth grade before staying home to help on the farm.

On Oct. 27, 1962, Rose married Carroll Zaruba. Throughout her life, she owned and operated several businesses, including the Rosie’s Bar in Fullerton, the 1st and 10 Bar in Schuyler, and Pappy’s Place in Fullerton. She also worked in various roles such as managing the Legion Club, waiting tables, and serving as a CNA in local nursing homes.

Rose found great joy in working, cleaning, and especially cooking for her family and friends and no one was ever turned away from her table. She was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fullerton and St. Ann’s Altar Society.

She is survived by her daughters, Sue Stetz of Fullerton and Jacque (Scott) Crabtree of Leavenworth, Kan.; sons, Wayne (Sue) Gilson of Schuyler, Terry (Kathy) Gilson of Waterloo, and Scott (Susan) Zaruba of Norfolk; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Donna and Rita Knopik; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll; sons, Stephen and Charles Gilson; grandson, Alex Crabtree; her parents; sisters, Katherine (Earl) Casey, Ethel (Charlie) Kava, Elizabeth (Louis) Stopak, Lorraine (Darwin) Hamel, and Mary (Ben) Gdowski; brothers, Edward (Leatrice), Virgil (Irene), Richard (Doris), Frank (Katie), Louis, Lawrence (Arlene), and Jerome Knopik; and son-in-law, Daniel Stetz.

Rose was the last surviving member of her family of 13 siblings.