Rose Marie Gambon passed away on June 29, 2020, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Rose was born on January 24, 1931 in Atchison KS to Peter and Catherine Pickman.

Rose was one of thirteen children having been born and raised on a dairy farm in Atchison.  She learned early how to milk cows, cook for the family and help take care of her many brothers and sisters.  Rose attended and graduated from Atchison County Community High School.  It was soon thereafter that she met and later married John Gambon.

Rose and John loved to travel having gone throughout Europe, Canada, Alaska and much of the United States.  Taking care of others was very important to her.  Before adopting two sons of her own, she enjoyed spending time with her nephews and nieces, many of which still talk of their love and appreciation for her.

From a young age, Rose showed her love of cooking and baking.  Many of the marvelous meals she made were never written down but instead committed to memory.  Her cakes and pies were extremely popular among family, friends, parishioners, and the priests and religious she often baked for.

Rose was a devout Catholic.  She volunteered as a Sacristan for Holy Trinity church in Springfield cleaning altar linens and taking care of the religious.  She was a member of St. Monica's guild, the Daughters of St. Francis DeSales and Cursillo.

Rose was also a cancer survivor.  After several months of misdiagnosis, she was eventually diagnosed with Colon cancer and showing no improvement after radiation and chemotherapy, she underwent extensive surgery.  Though doctors strongly believed the cancer would return, it never did.  One doctor remarked that her recovery could be considered miraculous.

Rose was preceded in death by her father and mother, her husband John, her brothers, Aloysius (Al), Carl, Jerome, Bob, and Bill, and a sister Mary.

She is survived by her two sons John (Rocky) and his wife Karen, and Mark and his wife Gretchen, both of Springfield; two grandchildren John Robert and James.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 6, 2020 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home on East Seminole. Rosary will be said at 6pm, with visitation following until 8pm. Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on July 7, 2020 at 10:00 am. Rose will be laid to rest next to her husband at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Trinity Church in care of St. Monica's Guild or the Daughters of St Francis de Sales.