Rose Mary (Spaight) Downs

     Rose Mary (Spaight) Downs, 81, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the Hiawatha Care Center after a long battle with Dementia. She was born September 9, 1940, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Elma (Serbousek) Spaight. Rose graduated high school from the Villa Maria Academy for Girls in Frontenac, Minnesota. She attended Mary Crest College in Davenport, Iowa, for two years.

     One of Rose’s first jobs was at Smulekoff’s Furniture in Cedar Rapids. This is where she met her future husband, Gary Downs. The two were united in marriage on May 16th, 1964 at St. Patrick’s   Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Two children, Dianne and Michael, were born to this   union. Gary and Rose started Downs Flooring in the 1960s. The business remained open until June 2018.

     In the early 1980s, Rose returned to college. She graduated from the Culinary Arts Program at Kirkwood Community College in 1986. Shortly after graduating, Rose opened The Great Midwestern Ice Cream  Company in Twix Town Square, next to Collins Road Theatre. Later,   she worked at various senior living and nursing homes as a baker. She retired as the baker at Coe College in 2013.

     Rose enjoyed cooking, especially baking, gardening, and visiting with friends. For many years she belonged to Bridge Club. One of her favorite things was hosting family holidays. Nobody ever left hungry. Rose devoted much of her time to caring for some of her elderly relatives. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and traveling. Throughout her life, Rose was known for her love of cats and dogs. They played an important role in her life. She was constantly surrounded by the animals she so loved. She rescued many and provided them a loving home.

     Rose is survived by her two children, Dianne (Jason) Osmun of Manchester and Michael Downs of Las Vegas, Nevada; eight grand-children, Steve Osmun (Courtney), Rachel Lange (Kevin), Emily Lange (Kevin), Nathan Lange, Hayley Osmun (Cody), Kaitlyn Osmun, Miah Downs, and Sofia Osmun; one great-granddaughter, Lilly Osmun; a brother, Tom Spaight (Lynn); a brother-in-law, Edward Walter; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

     Rose was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gary Downs; a grandson, Spencer Lange; three sisters, Rita Pappenfus, Bernadine Walter, and Theresa Hestwood; and two brothers-in-law, Ernie Pappenfus and Charlie Hestwood.

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