Rose Marie Skaer, nee Lanter, 93, of Freeburg, IL, passed away Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at Evelyn’s House hospice facility in St. Louis, MO. She was born Aug. 28, 1928, in Freeburg.
Rose enjoyed life with her best friend by her side, her husband Oscar. They met more than 75 years ago at Freeburg Community High School. The two celebrated their 72nd and final wedding anniversary together on May 1, 2020.
Home was where Rose was most happy and could almost always be found. It was where she demonstrated much love and devotion as a mother of eight children. Indeed, 40 years passed from the birth of her first child to the day the eighth child flew out of the nest. Almost all of that time was spent at 212 N. State St., home for more than 60 years.
Love was Rose’s true treasure in life. Whenever a family member asked what she wanted for a birthday or Christmas gift, Rose would always reply, “Don’t buy me anything! Just give me a hug and tell me you love me.”
Rose worked part-time at Skaer TV — answering phone calls, helping customers drop off or pick up TVs, and doing accounting work. She was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Freeburg, where she worked on the Altar Sodality and the PTF organization.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar G. Skaer, who passed away on May 15, 2020; her parents, Ferd and Mary Lanter, nee Dambacher; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Pat Lanter; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Alberta and Joseph Kostelac, and Mary Kay and Torrence Ashton; her nieces, Marilyn Skaer Pittman and Kathryn Weiss; and her nephew, Thomas Kostelac.
Surviving are her eight children, Michael (Jan) Skaer of Pasadena, TX, Jill (Vladimir) Halupa of Belleville, IL, Mark Skaer of Trenton, IL, Charles Skaer of St. Louis, MO, Jane Skaer (Scott Laurent) of Kansas City, MO, Mary (Joe) McGraw of New Athens, IL, Laura Skaer of Belleville, IL, and Christopher (Judy) Skaer of Roswell, GA; her six nephews and seven nieces; and her 14 grandchildren; and her 13 great grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic School Endowment Fund. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.rennerfh.com.
Funeral: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all services are private. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Freeburg. A date for a memorial service will be announced after all health restrictions are lifted.