Rose Gebke Alexander

Born on June 13, 1930 in St. Rose, Illinois
Departed on February 7, 2022 in Palm Bay, Florida

Rose Gebke Alexander, 91, passed away on February 7, 2022.
Rose was born in St. Rose, IL, on June 13, 1930, but grew up in Breese, IL. She moved away from home immediately after turning 14 years old and graduating the 8th grade from St. Dominic School to work at a hospital in St. Louis to send money home to help support the family. She returned home after a year, and then found work at a restaurant in Breese. She and Clara, her sister, ran The Lebanon Inn restaurant in the early 50’s, which later became known as The Cedar Inn. At The Lebanon Inn, she was the Grey Hound bus dealer in town.

She later met her husband, Ezra, on a Grey Hound bus leaving St. Louis. They were married in Breese in 1953 and had their wedding reception at The Knotty Pine Restaurant. With Ezra in the Air Force, having been stationed at Scott Air Force Base, they then moved to FL following their wedding. In 1957 they moved to Melbourne where they lived out their lives with their 3 children.

Rose worked as a cafeteria worker at University Park Elementary school from the 70’s to the 90’s with a little time spent working at Stone Middle School as well. During the 70’s, over the summers she worked in the kitchen to feed the children at The Good Shepherd Church in Melbourne. She volunteered at Daily Bread soup kitchen for 26 years. During all this time, she also took care of Ezra who had MS. She was a member of the 3rd Order of Mary group at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Melbourne. She loved to walk and pray, and many times did both at the same time.

Rose is predeceased in death by her parents Fred and Pauline (Seelhoefer) Gebke of Breese, IL; her sister Clara (Basil) French of Decatur, IL; and her husband Ezra of Pleasant Plains, IL. She is survived by her 3 children: Lisa Alexander, Gary (Sandy) Alexander and Lola (Lou) Giacona. Rose has 2 grandchildren: Lance Alexander and Erin (Gabe) Buzzelli; and 4 great-grandsons. She loved her family very much and was proud of each one of them.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 11th from 11:00-12:00 with the funeral mass to follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Melbourne, FL.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Our Lady of Lourdes Church.