Rose Hotz

A Mass of Christian Burial for Rose Mary Hotz, age 103, of Gregory, South Dakota, was held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 15, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, celebrated by Fr. Ron Garry.

Ian Opp and Bria Opp were altar servers, Don Hotz was lector, and Doris Jelinek was cantor. Mary Beth Gergen accompanied the congregation on piano on a number of hymns. Joan Grim was in charge of registration. Patty and Lyle Willuweit were gift bearers.

Casket bearers were Austin Willuweit, Andy Willuweit, Adam Willuweit, Eric Hotz, Nathan Hotz, and Bryce Kauer.

All of Rose’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild were honorary casket bearers.

Interment was at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Gregory. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Rose Mary (Simunek) Hotz was born to Jerry H. and Julia (Fortuna) Simunek in Gregory, on February 26, 1923. She was the youngest of four girls. She attended rural school and also attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, graduating in 1937. After her father’s passing from a farm accident, she and her mother left the homestead to move to Gregory.

Rose married Robert W. Hotz, Sr. of Herrick on September 28, 1946. They raised ten children. Rose was a homemaker who cherished her children, faith, pets (cats), and gardening and loved to cook and bake. She was a very good seamstress when younger.

Her husband died in 1986. In 1999 she moved to Hot Springs where she lived until February 2019 when she became a resident at Avera Rosebud Country Care Center for seven years until her passing on Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day).

Rose is survived by her children Elaine (John) Kauer, Robert (Judy) Hotz Jr., Anita (Rick) Messerschmidt, Don (Mona) Hotz, Gary (Melanie) Hotz, Linda (Galen) Guthmiller, Norman (Kathi) Hotz, Steve (Peggie) Kresl-Hotz, Patricia (Lyle) Willuweit, and Tim (Chrys) Hotz.

She was preceded in death by her parents Jerry H. and Julia Fortuna Simunek; sisters Mildred (Ed) Varilek, Emma (Carl) Holmberg, Lucille (Harry) Thompson; grandson Brian Kauer; grandaughter Adeline Hotz; and great-grandson Eli Wenger.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 414 Church Ave, Gregory, SD 57533.