Elaine Clara “Skip” Rouser of Grand Marais went to be with her Lord on May 24, 2019 at the age of 98.
Skip was born on November 10, 1920. She grew up in Remer, Minn. She married Walter “Tiny” Rouser in 1941 in Kansas City.
Skip and Tiny went where the work was which left Skip to become a professional fixer upper. They settled in Silver Bay, where Tiny worked for Reserve and Skip was a homemaker. The Rousers were known for being the local hangout for her girls and their friends near and far. Fresh bread could be smelled from blocks away. It would all get eaten and Skip would turn around and bake a new batch.
After retirement Skip and Tiny lived in Texas or Arizona during the winter and Grand Marais during the summer. After Tiny passed away in 1986 Skip lived in Arizona for 30 years. As she grew older she shared love and time between her Arizona daughters’ homes. Six years ago Skip moved to North Shore Living in Grand Marais where she was loved and well cared for by wonderful staff. Skip was known by many who followed her antics on Facebook as Grand Marais Grannie. To the very end Skip was cracking jokes and making people laugh. She will always be remembered for her quick wit.
One day grandma said, “Just look at these hands all old and wrinkly.” We said, “Just think of all the babies they have rocked, all the bread they have baked, all the cookies they have made, all the walls they have painted, all the gardens they have planted, all the wood they have sanded, all the brooms they have held, all the berries they have picked, all the jars they have canned, all the acres of lawns they have mowed, all the people they have hugged. Those old hands are beautiful, grandma.”
Skip is survived by three siblings and her four daughters, Sharon Bloomquist of Grand Marais, Mary Gustafson of Mesa, Ariz., Linda (Roy) Stai of Prescott, Ariz. and Patty (Randy) Janzen of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren and their spouses (except for Tami); 24 great-grandchildren and 24 great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Tiny, sons-in-law Dale, David and Gus, and granddaughter Nicole.
A memorial service will be held at North Shore Living at North Shore Health in Grand Marais on Saturday, June 22 at 1 p.m. Burial will be later in Rockford, Minn. next to her husband and granddaughter.
A memorial garden is being added at North Shore Living with gifts given to the family.
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