RoseMary Bickford, 88, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Kahl Home in Davenport, Iowa.

A celebration of her life will be at 11 A.M, Monday, December 16, 2024 at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa.  Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 11 A.M. at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa.

RoseMary was born on March 4, 1936, in Clinton County, Iowa.  She graduated from Elwood High School in 1954.  She lived with John and Betty Martensen helping with the children and farm chores. That is when she met the love of her life, Ernest (Leroy) Bickford. After graduation she was employed by J.C. Penney’s in Maquoketa until January of 1955.  She went to work at Clinton Engines where she was employed for 25 years.

On April 13, 1957, Leroy and RoseMary married and even though they were not blessed with any children of their own, they had many nieces, nephews and special children that they spoiled through the years, including Brianna who lived with them for several years. Leroy and RoseMary lived in Monmouth, Iowa when she began babysitting in her home. In 1978, they built a new home in Maquoketa and she continued to babysit for many of the neighborhood children.  Leroy passed away on November 19, 2004.

RoseMary was very active in the community. She was a longtime member of the Town and Country Quilt Club. She helped make many beautiful quilts of valor for veterans.  She was active in volunteering for many years at the Jackson County Senior Center quilting. She loved making beautiful quilts for family and friends. She was a life member of O’Connor Regenwether Veteran’s of Foreign War Auxiliary #3633 holding office positions and volunteering for several years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 75. She is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Maquoketa.

RoseMary enjoyed camping with family members, attending family reunions, playing cards, gardening, canning, quilting and baking.  RoseMary made the best chocolate chip cookies and, also sugar cookies that would melt in your melt. She always had cookies in the freezer to share with anyone who happened to drop by.

RoseMary is survived by many family and friends who love her very much.  She is also survived by a brother Richard Streat, and special thanks to her sister-in-law Santha Bickford. The family would also like to thank the staff at Clover Ridge Assisted Living in Maquoketa for their wonderful care while she lived there and, also the staff at the Kahl home and Genesis Hospice Service in Davenport, Iowa. A special thank you to Dr. Bybee for being a good neighbor, a wonderful friend and RoseMary’s doctor for all these years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings William Dague, Cecile Hansen, Viola Streat, Bernetta Schmidt and Jim Streat.

Memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous of Iowa or the Jackson County Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.CarsonAndSon.com.