Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MESA, Ariz. - It is with great sadness that the family of Bernard "Butch" Rosen announces that on Nov. 28, 2021, he passed at home with his family by his side.
Bernard was born in Lansing, Michigan, to Joseph and Beatrice Rosen on June 8, 1939. His family moved to Ironwood, Michigan, when he was a very young child. He was the oldest of three brothers.
He attended school in Ironwood and afterward joined the U.S. Army, where he was later honorably discharged. He returned to Ironwood and married the love of his life, Geri Corda. At that time, he joined his father in the family business, Sally's Shoe World. Upon his father's retirement, he purchased Sally's and opened Geri's Tops and Bottoms, and Rosen's Auto. Bernard was a people person, with a "gift to gab" and was loved by all. He was active in the community, involved in the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority, and real estate.
The most important thing in Butch's life was his family, including his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Butch and Geri retired in the mid 80s and moved to Las Vegas to care for his parents. He loved the U.P. and Ironwood so much that Butch and Geri purchased a condo in Hurley, Wisconsin, so they had a place for the family to all gather. They moved to Mesa in January 2000, where they resided at the time of his passing.
Butch is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Beatrice; his brothers, Charles and Michael; father- and mother-in-law, Earl and Ann Corda; and his grandson, Kevin Lahti.
Survivors include his wife, Geri; daughters, Terri (Mike Aimers) and Susie Rosen; and son, David (Jannet) Rosen. He is further survived by grandchildren, Cassie (Ralph) Stewart, Jake (Jessica) Novascone, Whitney (Ben) Jones, Chelsey Hollis, Ryan (Marci) Hollis, Camille Rosen, Bernard Rosen and David Rosen Jr .; granddaughter-in-law, Amy Lahti; great-grandchildren, Tia and Breleigh Lahti, Landon and Maddox Stewart, Kezia, Zeke and Raina Novascone, and Alexander and Addison Jones; and by his favorite sister-in-law, Kitty Morzenti.
Each and every one of his children and grandchildren brought him so much joy, with so many memories being made for long-lasting stories. He will be missing Christmas this year, which was his favorite holiday ... and he was Jewish!
Butch was cremated. Private family services have been held at his request.
Our dear husband, father and grandfather is in heaven with his grandson, Kevin Lahti, both angels, holding hands and talking about tow trucks. We miss them terribly.