Rosa Cornelius

Rosa Anna Cecelia (Wendt) Cornelius, 91, of Grant, Nebraska, passed away peacefully at Western Sky Community Care Center and went to be with her Lord and Savior on September 27, 2026.

Rosa was born on October 1, 1934, at the family farmhouse north of Madrid, Nebraska, to Hermann and Elsa (Kock) Wendt. Her parents were from Germany, so German was spoken most of the time. When it was time to go to school, Rosa and her sister, Irma, had to learn the English language. The family traveled to Germany just before WWII broke out. They were warned to return to America, which they did. The family was proud to be Americans.

Rosa attended school in Madrid, graduating in 1953. She attended college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She later taught at school in Ogallala and Sidney, Nebraska. On August 18, 1957, Rosa married Lowell Cornelius at Zion Lutheran Church in Grant. They were married 50 years before Lowell's passing. From this union, six children, Susan, Linda, Lori, Bill, David, and Chris, were born.

Lowell and Rosa lived in Ogallala and then moved north of Madrid to the Wendt homestead farm. Lowell and Rosa farmed and raised cattle there until Lowell's death in 2007. Rosa later moved to Grant. Lowell and Rosa loved their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as all the family activities. Rosa loved decorating at the church, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, leading 4-H, participating in the Wheatland 3M club, and helping with school activities.

Rosa was a hard worker, helping on the farm, raising her children, enjoying activities with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved the farm and enjoyed Husker sporting activities. Rosa was also an avid bridge player, quilter, and artist, painting mostly watercolors. Rosa was a great cook, and her cinnamon rolls were a family favorite.

Rosa was preceded in death by her husband, Lowell Cornelius, her parents, Hermann and Elsa Wendt, her in-laws, Floyde and May Chamberlain Cornelius, sister Irma Young and her husband Calvin, her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Floyd Cornelius, Elaine Fraham, Eldon Cornelius, Wendell Cornelius, Carol Friesen.

Rosa is survived by her children: three daughters, Susan Walters of Hampton, Nebraska, Linda (Dan) Muhlbach of Kearney, Nebraska and Lori (Mike) Perlinger of Elsie; three sons, Bill (Debra) of Elk Creek, Nebraska, David (Robin), and Chris (Holly), all of rural Madrid; 15 beloved grandchildren, Annie de la Cruz, Jenna Friesen, Dani McNeil, Mandy Gerih, Traci Dieckmann, Ben Cornelius, Brett Muhlbach, Jessica Cantrell, Lindsey Cunningham, Katie Cornelius, Mitchell Cornelius, Rebecca Jones, Hanna Loeffelbein, Matthew Cornelius, and Samuel Cornelius; many beloved great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Sandra (Mack) Fanning of Loveland, Colo., and many special nieces and nephews, cousins Erna Gilster and John Wendt and many in Germany.

The family wishes to thank Perkins County Health Services, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Golden Hours and Park Ridge of Grant, Western Sky Community Care Center, and Zion Lutheran Church for playing a special role in Mom's life.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Grant, with Pastor Michael Heckmann officiating. Interment will be in the Madrid Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant.

A memorial has been established in Rosa's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements