Well-known White Lake attorney, Ralph Rose, Jr., passed away quietly on July 26, 2015 surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on September 30, 1925, to Ralph and Josephine Tracy Rose and was raised in Bushnell, Illinois. He graduated from high school in 1943, where he was the student council president and a champion track and football athlete.
During WWII, Rose enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became an aviation cadet, remaining in training until the war ended in 1945. He then attended the University of Michigan, where he became a member of the Chi Phi fraternity and won his numerals in track. Due to illness, he left the University of Michigan, and later enrolled at the University of Illinois, at Galesburg.
While at the University of Michigan, Rose met Nancy Culligan, and they married in 1949. He entered the University of Detroit Law School, where he received his juris doctorate in 1951. Rose moved with his family to Montague to practice law in 1953.
In addition to his successful practice, he was active in community affairs and dog and horse 4H programs. He had several dogs, including his beloved golden retriever, John Robert, whom he and his wife took on a trip to France for five months.
Upon his retirement, Rose and his family skied in Michigan and Colorado, as well as in Switzerland and France during their extensive travels.
Rose was elected a district court judge in 1968. After leaving the bench he was joined by his son Jim to form Rose & Rose Attorneys in Montague. When he retired from practice, he lived on Lake Michigan during the summer months and in Palm Springs, California during the winter.
Rose is survived by his beloved wife Nancy, and his children: James (Lois) of Montague, and their children Steve (Jenelle) and their sons Andy and William, Sarah (Greg McColley) and their sons Ethan and Tyler, Matt (Stephanie Wuest) and their daughter, Julie; Bill (Teresa Hernandez) of Sand Lake;
Kate (Larry Bivins) of North Carolina, and their son Jackson Bivins; and Carol Reba Rose (Catrina Marchetti), of Oakland, California, and their children Kaia and Finn Marchetti-Rose.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Pound Buddies of Muskegon (poundbuddies.org) and Hospice of Michigan (hom.org). A family memorial service will be held at a later date.
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