Rosa M Toenjes

Rosa Mae (Bland) Cook Toenjes went home to be with Jesus on July 8, 2019 after complications with heart issues and a broken hip. Her life will be celebrated in a Memorial Service in Danville, Arkansas on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Rosa Mae was born November 17, 1930 in Yell County, Arkansas to Lewis and Alice (Dow) Bland. She graduated from Danville High School in 1949. She then completed her RN degree in Nursing in Little Rock, Arkansas. Later she wanted to further her nursing education so as she said” to get a real college degree” so she checked out for a BSN. While she was there at Phillips Community College in Helena, Arkansas she was offered a job to teach nursing as long as she continued her nursing education. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at Russellville, Arkansas and then on to Pine Bluff for her Master’s degree in Surgical Nursing. She was able to test out of a full year of college and PCCC paid for it all. Rosa found her lifetime calling in nursing, teaching and caring for others in her life journey in Little Rock, Arkansas, Paris, Victoria, and Temple, Texas. Along that journey she met and married the love of her life, Robert Lee Cook in 1951. He was one of her nursing school patients. Bob had been in an accident and had a metal plate put in his leg. He liked to joke and say” She only caught me because I couldn’t run fast enough to get away.” Bob and Rosa had two daughters, Kathy born in 1953 and Dorothy born in 1955. The Cooks lived many different places as they followed Bob’s career in the fertilizer business. For 6 years Bob was at the Nipak plant in Trinidad, Texas while Rosa was at the Memorial Hospital in Athens, Texas. Bob was able to retire early and Rosa continued teaching nursing. In 1992 after over 40 years together their journey ended. Rosa continued on teaching nursing in Victoria, Texas. While teaching nursing at Temple College, Temple, Texas Rosa planned her marriage to DeWitt H. (Tony) Toenjes in 1997. Tony passed away June 1, 2019. Rosa was also preceded in death by sister Ada Sue (Bland) Ray Smith and great granddaughter Candace Mayer. Rosa is survived by her two daughters, Kathy (Cook) Bearden (Jerry) of Log Cabin, Texas, Dorothy (Cook) Mayer (Steve) of Cameron, Texas. Her grandchildren include Robbie Bearden (Sheryl) of Rice, Texas, Traci Rose Talafuse (Gary) of Murchison, Texas, Josh Mayer (Shelby), Jacob Mayer (Amanda), and Sarah Mayer(Jeff), 8 great grandchildren, 8 great great grandchildren, nieces and great nieces as well as a host of other family and friends.

Rosa M Toenjes

November 17, 1930 - July 8, 2019