Rose Marie Gilbert (née Kucksdorf Morey)
January 12, 1932 – March 2, 2026
Rose Marie Gilbert (née Kucksdorf Morey) age 94, passed away on March 2, 2026, peacefully while she slept in the thoughts of her family and loved ones.
She was born on Jan. 12, 1932, near Wittenberg, Wisconsin, to Floyd and Lillian Morey. When she was 12 years old, they moved to Iola, Wisconsin, and she attended school there and graduated in 1949 as her high school class Salutatorian.
After high school, Rose moved to Appleton, Wisconsin, where she worked briefly at Zwicker’s Knitting Mills, Aid Association for Lutherans, Kmart, and Walgreens. She finished her work career in the service department at Sears, where she worked for 28 years.
She married Robert Kucksdorf in 1950, and they had four children together. Later, she married Jack Gilbert in 1989. They lived in Appleton, Iola, and Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, where they spent six winters. They spent much of their time enjoying country music with Jack’s band, Sheridan’s Ride.
Rose loved to travel! She and her daughter Lori traveled to Memphis, Las Vegas, and Hollywood. She and Jack enjoyed visits to Florida, Arkansas, North Dakota, Missouri, Arizona, and much of the East Coast.
She spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and baking cookies and pies. Some of her children’s favorites were potato pancakes, peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies, German sweet chocolate cake, and strawberry pie.
Additionally, Rose loved watching the Packers and the Brewers on TV. She also loved watching birds that would visit all the feeders she had through the years.
She is survived by her brother, Allen Morey (Judy); sister, Isabelle Thompson; son, Larry Kucksdorf (Deb Lauer) of Iola; son, Lee Kucksdorf (Cheryl) of Neenah, Wisconsin; daughter, Lori Van Heuklon (Tom) of Shawano, Wisconsin, and Largo, Forida; and son, Les Kucksdorf (Darlene) of Wausau, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Kim Kurzewski, Brad Kucksdorf, Dawn Paffel, Derek Kucksdorf, Jordan Kucksdorf, and Joshua Schroeder; and great-grandchildren: Evelyn and Pearl Birch, Claire, Jackson, and Reid Paffel.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Gilbert; brother, Victor; sister-in-law, Nancy Morey; brother-in-law, Richard Thompson; and daughter-in-law, Joni Kucksdorf.
The Funeral Service for Rose will be held on Monday, March 9, 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Ogdensburg, Wisconsin, with Rev. Mary Bope officiating. Visitation will be held at First Lutheran Church from 9:30-10:45 a.m. Interment will be at Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery in Iola.
The family would like to thank the staff at Living Tree Estates Assisted Living and Memory Care & Moments Hospice for all their dedication and special care.
Voie Funeral Home of Iola is assisting the family with arrangements.
