Cloquet Community Mourns the Loss of Rosa Lee Manderfeld

Rosa Lee Manderfeld, known affectionately as Rosie, passed away on October 16, 2025, in her hometown of Cloquet, Minnesota. Born on February 2, 1942, to George and Senja (Ylikoski) Ahlgren, she was the middle child in a family of seven siblings and shared a special bond with her twin brother, Ronnie.

Rosie spent her formative years on a small farm in Cloquet, where she developed a strong work ethic and a love for her community. She graduated from Cloquet High School in 1960 and pursued a career in nursing. After completing her training, she dedicated 42 years to serving as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Cloquet Memorial Hospital, where she was known for her compassionate care.

Passion for Life and Family

An avid walker, Rosie took great pride in having completed the Grandma’s Marathon in 1992. Her love for physical activity mirrored her commitment to family. On February 16, 1963, she married Jerome (Jerry) Manderfeld, with whom she had two children, Elizabeth and David. Their marriage lasted for an impressive 46 years until Jerry’s passing in 2009.

Rosie is preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Jerry. Her siblings, including brothers George (Elaine), Arnold (Kathy), Ronald (Kathy, deceased), Gordon (Linda Kewith), Bruce (Marla) Ahlgren, and sister Arlene Anderson (Dennis, deceased), also mourn her loss.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth (Haidar) Fakhoury, her son, David (Dawn) Manderfeld, and her cherished grandchildren: Jeries (Shannon) Fakhoury, Joseph Fakhoury, Logan Manderfeld (Rita Kuzko), and Kiera Manderfeld. Additionally, she leaves behind her great-grandson, Micah, along with numerous loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

A Celebration of Life

The Cloquet community will soon gather to celebrate Rosie’s life and legacy, although details regarding the event will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Ahlgren Education Fund via the Cloquet Education Foundation at https://www.cloquetedfundation.org or to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org/more.

Arrangements are being handled by Atkins-Northland Funeral Home. Rosie’s impact on her family and community will be remembered fondly by all who knew her.