Rose Helen Kasulka

Rose Helen Kasulka, 102, a Vancouver, WA resident since 1943, died on Nov. 7, 2009. She was born on a farm near Geddis, SD, on Sept. 19, 1907. She was the second oldest of six children, born to William and Laura McElroy. In 1929, Rose married Arthur Kasulka. They had four daughters and moved to Vancouver in 1943 to work in the Henry J. Kaiser Shipyards. Rose found her way to the Metal Department at Kaiser where she became "Rosie the Burner", cutting large steel plates to be used on the ships built here during WW II. She was very proud that she contributed to the war effort. Her name is carved in the large stone marker near the "Wendy Rose" statue at the Harder Memorial Plaza. She was presented with a bouquet of roses by the Mayor at the dedication as the oldest known survivor in this area of women who worked in the shipyards. At the end of the war she was employed at H.L. Greens Dime Store, Del Monte Cannery during the canning season and in a drapery shop in downtown Vancouver. All the while she worked she handled her household chores and was an active member of the East Vancouver Methodist Church. In her spare time she enjoyed knitting, crocheting afghan's and making beautiful quilts for her daughters and grandchildren. She loved collecting Barbie and Ken dolls, gardening and especially taking care of her beautiful rose garden. In the summer of 2005, she sold her home and her car (she finally gave up driving at the age of 98) and moved to Cascade Inn Retirement Home, where she lived "like a queen", because everything was taken care of for her. She loved the people there including the thoughtful staff. Rose will especially be remembered by all those who knew her and loved her as a gracious hard working, good-natured, proud and sweet woman who spent most of her life loving and helping her family and friends. Rose leaves a large and adoring family including her four daughters, Arlene Scarpelli, Eleanor Green/Dewey (Boyd), Jean Carpenter (Bill), and Barbara Reeves (Jim) all of Vancouver; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Rose was preceded in death by her parents; her five siblings; her dear husband, Arthur; two sons-in-law, Antonio Scarpelli and Stanford Green; and grandson, Michael Carpenter.

Rose Helen Kasulka

September 19, 1907 - November 7, 2009