Rosalie Lombard

Rosalie Faith Ferguson Lombard passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024, in Emporia, Kansas.

She was born on a snowy day on December 22, 1923, in her family's home in Kincaid, Kansas. Rosalie's family had sent for a doctor, but his car slid off the icy road and he had to walk to town. In the meantime, Rosalie's aunt Bernice delivered her and cut the umbilical cord with her embroidery scissors while Rosalie's brother Gene sat crying in his highchair. Rosalie grew up in Kincaid with her dad, mom, and brother. In high school, she played trumpet in the band, sang in the choirs, played the piano, was K Queen, and graduated from Kincaid High School in 1941 as the Valedictorian.

Rosalie attended Pittsburg State University for one year, then taught in a one-room school for two years. In 1944, she enrolled in the University of Kansas. When she was at KU, many of the young men were at war and the traditionally all male KU marching band needed members. Rosalie tried out for the trumpet section and was one of the first women to become a member of the KU marching band. Her experience as a student at KU began her lifelong love of KU basketball.

As a freshman in high school, she met her future husband, Jack (E.J.) Lombard. They were married December 23, 1944, when Jack came home from the war. His job took them to many towns in Kansas. Rosalie was a homemaker raising their five children: Susan, Sara, Lana, Lisa, and Craig. Her son Mark died in infancy. Wherever her family lived, she was involved in her children's activities, played the piano and organ at the church and directed many church choirs. After her children were gone from home, she worked for the Lyons school district as an accompanist for the middle school choir and in the high school lunchroom. She is also a 75 plus year member of the Order of Eastern Star.

In 1983, Rosalie and Jack moved to his family's home in Lane, Kansas. Jack died in 1995, and Rosalie moved to Emporia to be closer to her daughters in 1998. After a short illness, she moved to Holiday Resort in March of 2019. Her greatest joy was being Grandma Rosie to her 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren with one due any day.

Rosalie was preceded in death by her husband; parents, Oran and Ruby Ferguson; brother Gene; infant son Mark; daughters, Susan and Lisa; and sons-in-law, Jim Rosetta and Harold Harper.

She is survived by her daughters, Sara Hill and children Riann and CJ; Lana and Bob Clements and sons, Joe Bob (Pelusa) and Jeb (Amy); son, Craig and children, Jordan and Cole; grandsons, Todd (Shelley) Rosetta and Kris Harper; granddaughters, Emily (Charles) Cheek, Katie (Chris) Garate, and Kacey (John) Feldkamp; great-grandchildren, Alexa Rosetta, Austin Rosetta, Connor Cheek, Madison Cheek, Orianna Clements, Chance Clements, Emma Clements, Kaden Clements, Laynie Clements, Kannon Clements, Santino Garate, Lorenzo Garate, Noah Cox, Kameron Cox, Anthony Cox, Carter Lombard, Clayton Lombard, Peyton Feldkamp, and baby boy Feldkamp.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Lone Elm Cemetery in Lone Elm, Kansas. Rosalie's family will greet friends from 1:00 P.M. until the service time on Wednesday afternoon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kincaid Alumni Association and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com