Obituary of Rose Marie Friedrich

Rose Marie (Walk) Friedrich died in Iowa City, Iowa, on August 12, 2024, during a brief hospital stay.

Rose Marie was treasured by all who knew her for her zest for life, easy laugh, sense of humor (including about herself!), and joyful spirit. She was a lifeforce, who made people in her presence feel heard, appreciated, and welcomed. She always saw the best in people and let them know it. Her enthusiasm for new places and experiences was infectious. She marveled at the beauty of nature, loved the beach and the water, walks in the woods, camping, gardening, and Broadway musicals. She packed dozens of picnics each summer for family dinners in parks and made every occasion special. She had a strong work ethic and also loved being silly and having fun. Later in life, she became an avid reader, especially of biographies.

Rose Marie loved her family deeply and devoted much of her life to caregiving. She put her husband Bruce and three kids at the center of her life. She never missed a single game and recorded every band and choir concert on her tape recorder. No grandchild was given more love and attention than “Gma” gave her beloved granddaughter (and her granddogs and grandcats, too!). She was a scholar and advocate who made many marks, including her decade’s long research and work on behalf of people with mental illness.

Rose Marie was born on January 22, 1939, to Armond and Bernice (Dalluge) Walk of Grafton, IA, a town of about 300 people. Her parents and grandparents prior ran the Walk’s General Store, which served as a cornerstone of the small, German-Lutheran community.  She grew up with her parents and younger brother Phil in a house shared with her great aunts, with other relatives nearby. Rose Marie was the valedictorian of her 1957 high school class. She was a star on the basketball team, which finished 5th and 4th in consecutive state tournaments, played in front of crowds of over 13,000 in Des Moines. Rose Marie once scored 57 points in a game, largely from her signature baseline “swish” shot. Rose Marie carried Grafton values and cherished memories with her throughout her life. She treasured family traditions, including making her famous family pies.

Rose Marie attended the University of Iowa, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1961. During this time, she met her future husband, Bruce Friedrich, a chemistry graduate student. After graduating, Rose Marie worked and saved money to move to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she worked as a nurse in Queen’s Hospital for a year. She took hula class, learned Japanese cooking, and tried surfing - an adventurous step for someone who had never traveled beyond Iowa and Minnesota!

After returning to the mainland, Rose Marie married Bruce in Grafton in 1963. Rose Marie and Bruce had their first child, John, in Iowa City, before moving to St. Peter, MN, where their second child, Kristin, was born. Rose Marie and Bruce’s second daughter, Ann, was born after they returned to Iowa City. While raising their children, Rose Marie returned to the University of Iowa and earned a master’s degree in nursing, which led to a career as an associate professor, teaching and conducting research in the U of I College of Nursing.

During her career, Rose Marie won accolades for her work to understand the needs, including adequate housing, of people with mental illness. Rose Marie conducted hundreds of interviews with siblings of people with mental illness to understand impacts on families.  Her work as a psychiatric nursing professor was grounded in applied, relevant research that made a difference in people’s lives, and she was beloved by her students.

After retirement in 2002, Rose Marie continued her advocacy for people with mental illness, which included winning the national volunteer of the year award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). Rose Marie was the driving force behind creation of the Melrose Ridge apartments in Iowa City, and she was active on the University of Iowa Emeritus Faculty Council. Rose Marie returned with her family to Hawaii for the first time after working there 50 years prior and loved their subsequent visits. She also enjoyed travels with close friends and family to several places in Europe and dreamed of returning for new explorations.

Rose Marie was preceded in death by her husband Bruce, with whom she celebrated 60 years of marriage. She is survived by her children, John (Kim Carr) Friedrich and granddaughter Rose Friedrich of South Lake Tahoe, CA; Kristin Friedrich of Iowa City; Ann Friedrich of St. Paul, MN; brother Phil (Mary) Walk; nephews Steve (Amy) Walk and Christian (Jessi) Walk; brother-in-law Richard Osberg; niece Jennifer (Sean) Craft; and cousins, including Thalya (Mark) Hanson and Rachel (Doug) Pick.

Memorial services for both Bruce and Rose Marie Friedrich, who died April 24 and August 12 of this year, respectively, will be held Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City. A time of fellowship and refreshments will follow the services.

Memorial contributions may be made in Rose Marie’s honor to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (bbrfoundation.org).