Wayne Eugene Rose

Wayne Eugene Rose was born on August 9, 1930 to Lynn and Blanche Rose in Sterling, Kansas, the fourth of six children. He graduated from Sterling High School and then served in the Army during the Korean Conflict in two different stents between 1949 and 1951. Some time later he started on his college education at Sterling College, and then transferred to Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas, where he met the love of his life, Margaret Klein. The two were wed on July 14, 1957. At the time of Margaret’s passing in 2015, they had been married just two days short of 58 years.

The newlywed couple moved to Kansas City, where Margaret taught school in Prairie Village, Kansas. Wayne began working at the Sears store on the Country Club Plaza, and later worked for J.I. Case before taking a job at the Kansas City Board of Trade for two different grain companies. He retired from Bartlett Grain Company in 1996.

Immediately after their marriage, Wayne and Margaret joined Calvary Baptist Church and were members there for almost 53 years. Wayne served in whatever capacity was needed, including volunteering in the roles of deacon, usher, and 5th and 6th grade boys Sunday School teacher.

Wayne and Margaret’s only daughter, Linda, was born in 1960. Many years later, after Linda got married, Wayne went to a workshop about roses, sponsored by the Kansas City Rose Society. He entered the Rose Show that year as a guest and won some ribbons. After that, Wayne was hooked on roses and he and Margaret were members of the Rose Society for over 30 years. Wayne helped deadhead roses in the Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden at Loose Park in Kansas City, MO, and he and Margaret were co-chairs of the Kansas City Rose Show for two years. They won multiple trophies over time, at this annual event.

Wayne was an avid sports fan, especially a diehard Kansas Jayhawks fan. He loved to garden and had all kinds of flowers and vegetables in his yard. He was also an avid reader. He loved to exercise and was a member of Silver Sneakers at the Prairie Village YMCA and the Lenexa Rec Center Forever Fit classes, which he attended until two days before his death.

Wayne was the very definition of a people person; he loved people, and they loved him. He also loved the Lord Jesus Christ and was faithful in church attendance until the end of his life. The last 12 years he was a joyful member of Lenexa Baptist Church. He was a proud veteran and was delighted to get to go on an honor flight to Washington, DC in 2016. He was always ready to help or sit and visit with someone.

Wayne’s homegoing occurred on Thursday, April 20, 2023 in his apartment at Homestead of Lenexa. Among the activities of the last week of his life, he planted new rose bushes at Homestead. He went to church, had lunch and watched sports on TV with his family on Sunday. He went to early morning Bible study and also to exercise class at the Rec Center on Tuesday. He enjoyed fellowship and a Sonic shake with his Homestead friends on Wednesday. He truly enjoyed life until the last hour of his 92 years.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and two brothers. He is survived by his daughter and her husband, Linda and Lance Belden of Lenexa, KS; two beloved grandsons, Brice Belden and his wife, Mindy, of Shawnee, KS and Evan Belden of Lenexa, KS; one much adored great-grandson, Jonathan Joseph “JJ” Belden of Shawnee, KS; and one brother, Dale Rose and his wife, Judy, of Sterling, KS, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate a rose bush in Wayne’s honor to the Kansas City Rose Society or donations can be made to Lenexa Baptist Church.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 1 at Lenexa Baptist Church, 15320 W. 87th St. Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66219. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2 at Lenexa Baptist Church. Interment in Longview Memorial Gardens, Kansas City, Missouri. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleymidtownchapel.com for the Rose family.