Rose Ann Ewald, 95, of Blue Earth, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth.

Rose Ann McNerney was born on Nov. 26, 1922, in Pleasant Prairie Township, Martin County, Minnesota, to John Louis and Margaret (Wade) McNerney.

She grew up on the family farm in Pleasant Prairie and attended country school at District 23, not far from their farm. In 1936, she graduated from eighth grade at District 23 and went to Fairmont, Minnesota, to attend high school. She graduated in 1940 from Fairmont High School and then attended Mankato School of Beauty Culture, which she graduated from in 1941. She worked briefly in Wells, Minnesota, before moving to Austin, Minnesota, to work in a beauty shop.

Rose Ann married Augustine “Gus” Ewald on July 22, 1946, and they made their home in Austin. With their partners Vint and Jeanette Hitchins they owned and operated Austin Super-Valu Store in Austin until it closed in 1961. Rose Ann worked as a beautician and also worked at GNC in Austin before she retired.

Rose Ann attended St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin, where she often attended daily mass and was very active in her unit and enjoyed serving others. When she moved to Blue Earth, she became a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

She loved to embroider and probably embroidered thousands of dishtowels that she gave away to family and friends over the years. Rose Ann and Gus loved to travel and spend time in Northern Minnesota fishing.

Rose Ann was actively involved with the Red Cross Blood Drive. Over the course of her life, she donated over 20 gallons of blood to the Red Cross.

Rose Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Gus; her parents; her sisters, Monica Post, Marvis Maday, Margaret McNerney, and Nylene McNerney; her in-laws, Cliff Post, Wilton and Myrtle Ewald, George and Pearl Ewald, Mark and Bella Ewald, and Victor and Wilma Ewald, Sister Cosmas Ewald, Pauline Mortan, Sister Cecile Ewald, Sister Damian Ewald, Eleanore and Bennett Coffer; and many other family members.

Rose Ann is survived by her brother and his wife, Jack and Ruth McNerney; brother-in-law, Louis Maday; sister-in-law, Sister Noel Ewald; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Father Peter Klein presiding. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Adams, Minnesota.

Online condolences may be left at www.pattonfh.com.