In Loving Memory of Rose Marie Retzloff
July 3, 1954 – March 26, 2025

Rose Marie Retzloff passed away in Reno, Nevada on March 26, 2025, at the age of 70. Complications arose after a successful open-heart surgery, leading to the end of her vibrant life. Rose was born on July 3, 1954, in Eureka, and made front page news as the first baby born in the new wing of the General Hospital. She grew up in Eureka, attending Marshall and Franklin Elementary Schools, Winship Junior High, and Eureka High School, graduating in 1972. She went on to put herself through College of the Redwoods, earning her degree in 1974.

From a young age, Rose learned the values of hard work, organization and money management while working at her mother’s store, Handee Market. These values remained central to her life. She was preceded in death by her mother Nellie Baker Peterson, father Nels Sterling Peterson (The Land Man), mother-in-law Mitzi L. Retzloff, father-in-law Jack L. Retzloff, her beloved first son Justin Retzloff, dear friend Dorthy Davidson, and many other cherished relatives and friends. Rose leaves behind her devoted husband of 48 years, Michael Retzloff, loving children Chelsea Retzloff and Sean Retzloff, daughter-in-law Mandy Retzloff, and two beloved grandchildren, Estelle Retzloff and Isla Maria Rose Retzloff. She also leaves behind countless loving relatives and lifelong friends.

Rose was a true people person — always ready to lend a hand, plan a celebration, or take off on a travel adventure with friends. She rarely argued, always aimed for harmony, and helped others relentlessly. She had a special gift for making others feel loved and cared for. Rose was always there to volunteer her time when she saw the need arise. Helping people is one thing she did relentlessly.

Her greatest joy and focus were her family — especially her children and grandchildren. She poured her heart into their lives, ensuring they were supported, celebrated, and encouraged to pursue their own passions. When her children were growing up Rose attended to their every need, made sure they did well in school, and let them pursue interests and hobbies they wanted rather than choosing for them. Every birthday party, Christmas and holiday was a festive, well-planned affair implemented by Rose. We have hundreds of photographs that we revisit to remember those great times. We are so thankful for Rose’s decorating and organizing skills that made each of those events so thrilling and fun. Rose’s gift-giving skills were unmatched. If she found out someone wanted or needed something, she would take it upon herself to provide that gift with great thought and care.

As her children became active in sports, Rose participated willingly and grew to love those sports. The family became a unit as they attended many sporting events like martial arts, volleyball, baseball, football, basketball, and dance recitals. In addition to never missing her children’s sporting and dance events, Rose became an avid fan of the San Francisco Giants, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Golden State Warriors.

Throughout her life, Rose was an avid outdoorswoman. She was a great water skier, snow skier, camper, hiker, fisher, swimmer, rafter, catamaran sailor, paddle boarder, boater, and even kite-sailed on a trip to the Virgin Islands. She and Mike often hiked up and down remote Sierra Nevada mountains in search of mountain streams to fly fish when they were young. Rose sometimes caught bigger and more fish than Mike! She liked to gamble within reason. She was a good blackjack player and experienced craps player but she played slot machines more as she got older.

Rose was an extraordinary cook and presented all dishes like she was a chef in a restaurant, taking great care to make servings look as delicious as they were. She was also an excellent seamstress, gardener, artist, interior decorator, and collector of dishware. She was a natural businesswoman. Her bookkeeping skills were second to none and her money management skills were impeccable. She was an excellent property manager and had a knack for finding good tenants, whom she treated well, and kept all rental properties in top shape. She was an excellent investor in securities. Rose had a green thumb and was a gardener for life. Her backyards are filled with succulents, trees, flowers, ferns, and flowering plants. For many years she and the family harvested fruits and vegetables from large gardens at the family summer homes in Willow Creek and Redway. She learned how to safely can excess harvest for feeding the family beyond the peak season.

She loved to travel, especially to remote islands in the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. Rose often said those islands provided a special solace to her and she could really relax and enjoy life when she was at any of them. She loved the arts and proudly followed Chelsea’s dance performances with Shen Wei Dance Arts to New York City around the world. Rose was an avid supporter of theater and musicals, attending productions like Wicked, Waitress: The Musical, Phantom of the Opera, and Mamma Mia! multiple times.

Rose was very proud of her son Sean who is a top salesman for commercial retail properties in northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe, California and other states. Sean worked for the Carrington Company for 5 years and as a paid intern for Security National Servicing Corporation in Eureka. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and she tried to spend as much time with them as possible. She was always buying outfits and educational toys and books for them on every holiday occasion. Playing with them, feeding them, babysitting them was always a part of her plans. Her priority was to have as much fun with them as possible.

Rose will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life will be held on May 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Eureka Elks Lodge at 445 Herrick Ave, Eureka, CA 95503. Please try to RSVP to: Retzloffstreams@gmail.com if you plan to attend the celebration of life.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Rose Retzloff’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.