Obituary for Rosemary A. Player (Nakvasil)
Rosemary A. Nakvasil was born in St. Helens, Oregon to Frank and Marie Nakvasil on September 29, 1943. She passed away peacefully in Dallas, Oregon on April 26, 2023. She enjoyed growing up on the family farm in Scappoose, Oregon with her seven siblings. She attended St. Frederic’s Catholic School and later Scappoose Union High School, graduating in 1961. She furthered her education at Clark Jr. College, Portland State University and continued college and art courses for much of her adult life. At age 21, she moved to Sarasota, Florida with two close friends where they worked and lived on the beach.
She later moved to Kansas City, Missouri where she met her future husband in the church singles club. She married Joseph C. Player in Kansas City, Missouri on June 27, 1970, and their daughter Jennifer was born a few years later. In addition to Oregon, she lived in Washington, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee and Colorado, and later returned to Oregon to enjoy her grandchildren, Marina and Henry. Over her lifetime she worked at the Washington School for the Blind, Pacific NW Bell, Weaver Airline School, US Air Force, Tennessee Valley Authority, the City of Longmont (Colorado), and later, along with Joe, opened and owned the Big Town Hero restaurant on Center Street in Salem, Oregon. Her interests included art, gardening (former Salem Garden Club member), reading mysteries, being a cat mom, walking twice daily for nearly her entire adult life, spending time with friends and family, doll collecting (former Longmont Hello Dollies Doll Club member) and her Christian faith (numerous Bible study groups during her life).
Rose is survived by her husband Joe of Dallas, Oregon, daughter Jennifer P. Foster (Stuart) of Salem, Oregon, grandchildren Marina and Henry, brothers Charles Nakvasil Sr. of Portland, Oregon, Richard Nakvasil (Kathy) of Boring, Oregon, sisters Helen Nakvasil-Joireman of Portland, Oregon, Susann Pfannenstiel (Jerry) of Blue Springs, Missouri and Kathy Janes (Doug) of Portland, Oregon, brothers in law Ray Miller of Houston, Texas, Tom Player (Susan) of Houston, Texas, and sister-in-law Nancy Dostal (Bob) of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Marie, her siblings Andy and Joanne Nakvasil, brother-in-law Joe Robison and sister-in-law Linda Miller.
Memorial remembrances may be made to the Oregon and SW Washington Chapter of the ALS Association for treatment development and/or patient support. At Rose’s request, there will be no service. Rose found comfort in 2 Corinthians 12:9 in her final months.
She later moved to Kansas City, Missouri where she met her future husband in the church singles club. She married Joseph C. Player in Kansas City, Missouri on June 27, 1970, and their daughter Jennifer was born a few years later. In addition to Oregon, she lived in Washington, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee and Colorado, and later returned to Oregon to enjoy her grandchildren, Marina and Henry. Over her lifetime she worked at the Washington School for the Blind, Pacific NW Bell, Weaver Airline School, US Air Force, Tennessee Valley Authority, the City of Longmont (Colorado), and later, along with Joe, opened and owned the Big Town Hero restaurant on Center Street in Salem, Oregon. Her interests included art, gardening (former Salem Garden Club member), reading mysteries, being a cat mom, walking twice daily for nearly her entire adult life, spending time with friends and family, doll collecting (former Longmont Hello Dollies Doll Club member) and her Christian faith (numerous Bible study groups during her life).
Rose is survived by her husband Joe of Dallas, Oregon, daughter Jennifer P. Foster (Stuart) of Salem, Oregon, grandchildren Marina and Henry, brothers Charles Nakvasil Sr. of Portland, Oregon, Richard Nakvasil (Kathy) of Boring, Oregon, sisters Helen Nakvasil-Joireman of Portland, Oregon, Susann Pfannenstiel (Jerry) of Blue Springs, Missouri and Kathy Janes (Doug) of Portland, Oregon, brothers in law Ray Miller of Houston, Texas, Tom Player (Susan) of Houston, Texas, and sister-in-law Nancy Dostal (Bob) of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Marie, her siblings Andy and Joanne Nakvasil, brother-in-law Joe Robison and sister-in-law Linda Miller.
Memorial remembrances may be made to the Oregon and SW Washington Chapter of the ALS Association for treatment development and/or patient support. At Rose’s request, there will be no service. Rose found comfort in 2 Corinthians 12:9 in her final months.