Rosemary Harms

LANARK/DIXON- RoseMary Harms, 91, passed away unexpectedly on October 8, 2018. A few of her familiar, caring, Heritage Square care-takers, Baida, Bonnie, Tito and Becky were with her. Sitting in her favorite chair, with flowers outside her open window, the hummingbird feeder just filled, visitors just departed and beneath her favorite bright blue October sky, she said she was ready to go. RoseMary was born July 16, 1927 in Glen Elder, KS, the daughter of Roy and Anna (Plettner) Megli. Her father farmed in Kansas in an area hit hard by the 1930’s dust bowl and when she was 7 her family moved to the Sterling area along with other Reformed Mennonite families. She graduated from Sterling High School despite some of the challenges she faced getting to school everyday. Living with other families during the week and arranging rides with neighbors were part of her high school memories. RoseMary married Warren Harms in 1947 and they soon moved to Lanark and started their life’s work, farming and raising 7 children. RoseMary loved walking the fields and woods on the farm and knew most wild flowers and birds by name. At the end of a long busy day she often sought quiet composing poetry and sewing for her children (and daughters’ dolls). Survivors include three daughters, Barb (Al) Bicker of Fromberg, MT, Ruth (Jan Duxstad) Harms of Waunakee, WI, and Joyce Harms of Oregon, WI; four sons, Dan (Cathy) Harms of Galena, Ross (Laura) Harms of McArthur, OH, Ted Harms of ELizabeth and Joel Harms of Lanark. She enjoyed following the lives of her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren, in 1985; two sisters, Edna Sedig and Ellen Schrock and one brother, Leo Megli. Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Monday, October 15, at the Reformed Mennonite Meeting House in Sterling. Visitation will be Sunday from 1PM to 3PM at Schilling Funeral Home and Cremation, Sterling. Burial will be at the Reformed Mennonite Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com.