Rose Marie "Reynolds" Crannell

Rose Marie Crannell, born Rose Marie Reynolds on December 11, 1929, in Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on March 4, 2026. Raised on a farm near Mitchellville, she attended a one-room schoolhouse through eighth grade before graduating from Mitchellville High School and enrolling at William Penn College in Oskaloosa. There, during her freshman year, a playful misunderstanding at a picnic led her to meet Donald E. Crannell. Though innocent of the mustard-squirting accusation, she married him in March 1950 in Ivy, Iowa. Their marriage endured for more than 71 years.

The couple lived in Chicago, where their children Daniel and Sylvia were born, followed by James in Delavan, Illinois, during Don’s service with the Presbyterian Church. In 1961, they settled in Minneapolis to find appropriate schooling for their oldest son, Dan, who had been left developmentally disabled after measles encephalitis. Their youngest child, Crystal, was born there. Once her children were in school, Rose returned to her studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Minnesota in 1971. She and Don helped establish the Adler Graduate School of Minnesota and were deeply involved in psychodrama and family education programs.

In 1974, the family moved to Albert Lea, where Rose worked as a social worker for Freeborn County. She and Don developed a lasting passion for square dancing that continued until 2019, when Rose was nearly 90. In 1981, they followed their wanderlust to Queensland, Australia, for two years. After returning to Minnesota in 1983, Rose resumed her social work career in St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and Ramsey County, retiring in 1995. In retirement, she and Don visited the capitals of all 50 states, returned to Australia, explored New Zealand, and traveled to Japan in 1995 as part of the St. Paul-Nagasaki Sister City delegation, where they demonstrated square dancing.

Rose lived a long and vibrant life, cherishing time with her family, participating in the Red Hatters Club, and remaining passionately committed to politics, human rights, and especially women’s rights. She is survived by her children Sylvia (Ron Lawrenz), Jamie (Diane), and Crystal (Ward Moberg), five grandchildren—Marissa (John) Crannell-Ash, Nini Crannell, Sage Crannell (Andrew Trenne), Keegan Moberg, and Katrina Moberg—and great-grandson Rowan Crannell-Ash. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ethel and Glenn Reynolds, her brother Terry, her husband Donald, and her son Daniel Crannell.