ROSE ANN EMILY KOLBERG

Palmer resident Rose Ann Emily Kolberg, 72, died on May 22, 2008 at Mat-Su Regional Hospital in Palmer. She was surrounded by family and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 30 at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Pastor Jonathan Rockey will officiate. Graveside services will then take place at Valley Memorial Park Cemetery, Mile 12.4 on the Old Glenn Highway.

A reception will be held at St. John Lutheran Church following the graveside service. A celebration of life potluck for friends and family will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at American Legion Post 15 on Outer Springer Loop.

Kolberg was born on Christmas Day, 1935, in Porterfield, Wis., to Wilbert and Emily Panske. She attended Miles Elementary School and graduated from Lourdes High School in 1953. She was a member of the Marinette 4-H Club and the Square Dance Club. After graduation, Kolberg worked at Marinette City Hall, Marinette County Courthouse and Scott Paper Mill in Wisconsin.

She married Armand E. Kolberg on Oct. 19, 1957. She resided in the Palmer area, arriving just weeks prior to the 1964 earthquake. She worked at several places in the Valley, including Matanuska Maid, Palmer City Hall and for the past 12 years, Wal-Mart in Wasilla.

Kolberg was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church. She also served as a member of American Legion Auxiliary, Post 15 and Women of the Moose, Lodge 793. Her family said her loves in life included her husband, Armand, whom she missed dearly, family and friends. Her passions were grandchildren, gardening, helping others and working in the church. She was known for her gourmet meals, floral arrangements, raspberry patch and blue ribbon flowers and vegetables at the Alaska State Fair.

Her family wrote: “Mom lives on in all of us. She touched the lives of everyone she met and is special to all who knew her. We feel an empty sadness at our loss but rejoice that she was confident in the promise that she will be with our Lord and Savior and that we would reunite one day. She would often remind us that God is in control.”

Kolberg is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Harvey and Jackie Kolberg, Armand M. and Julie Kolberg, and David and Wendy Kolberg of Palmer; daughter and son-in-law Jody and Murray Fenton of Soldotna; grandchildren Allison, Kyle, Kelsey, Michael, Kalen, Jamie, Sandra, Zachary, Megan, Konnor and Karson (her 12th grandchild is due in two weeks). Other survivors include brothers and sisters-in-law Vernon and Arlyss Panske of Octonto, Wis., and Harold and Ellie Panske of Peshtigo, Wis.; sisters and brothers-in-law Lorraine and Virgil Thomson of Coleman, Wis.,, Jane and Ray Walters of Green Bay, Wis.,, Judy and Kenneth Beyer of Marinette, Wis., and Marlene and Larry Roetzer of Marinette; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Kolberg was preceded in death by Armand E. Kolberg, her husband of 45 years; parents Wilbert and Emily Panske, and brother Michael Gene Panske.