Rose Teresa Mengwasser, 80, Jefferson City, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb.7, 2026, at her home in Jefferson City, with her steadfast husband, Alan, at her side.
She was born on June 3, 1945, the oldest child of the late Carl F. and Rose Mary (Moerschel) Vogel in in Jefferson City.
She graduated from St. Peter’s Elementary School, Helias High School (Class of 1963) and Webster College (1967).
Rose was united in marrriage to Alan Alphonse Mengwasser in December of 1972, in of Rich Fountain, and together they raised five sons.
Before her marriage, she taught English at Fatima High School and Hazelwood Senior High School and continued to teach in various ways the rest of her life.
When her sons were young, Rose taught children’s Sunday School and frequently served as a substitute teacher at St. Joseph’s Elementary School. She tutored adults who were preparing to take the GED. Later, she taught the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for those preparing to join the Catholic Church.
Rose loved to learn and share local history and was proud of the Dulle, Moerschel, and Vogel families’ roots in the community.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she volunteered as a docent at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion and later with the Cole County Historical Society. Rose gave numerous museum tours and presented countless show-and-tell programs for schools and Scout troops using items from the Society’s museum.
She was a loving, loyal, and devoted daughter, granddaughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt, teacher, friend and Catholic.
Rose’s faith was central to her life. Highly involved at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, she proudly served as a lector, choir member and cantor. She had served as a member of the Parish Council, school board, numerous committees, and a Christmas Bazaar coordinator for many years. Rose was also a longtime volunteer at St. Mary’s Hospital’s annual Ice Cream Socials. She was instrumental in establishing and sustaining St. Joseph’s Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
The pro-life movement was very important to Rose, and she volunteered with Missouri Right to Life and the Vitae Society and attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C., many times.
A social person, Rose enjoyed attending parish picnics and fall suppers throughout mid-Missouri, as well as Knights of Columbus and American Legion dinners and programs. She had a close group of friends who gathered many mornings at Panera, and she greatly enjoyed their fellowship, as well as time spent with the St. Joseph’s noontime Rosary group. She also formed close relationships with staff members and fellow patients at the JCMG dialysis clinic.
Rose was preceded in death by parents, Carl and Rose; in-laws, Leo and Frances Mengwasser; sister, Emily Talken; brother, Carl M. Vogel; brother-in-law, Gary Mengwasser; nephew, Phillip Mengwasser; and firstborn son, Joseph Ernst, who died less than a month after birth.
She is survived by husband of 53 years, Alan; sons, Alan Carl and wife Rebecca of Crofton, Md., John Henry and wife Vanessa of Cypress, Texas, Anthony Jude and wife Claire and Paul Stephen and wife Sarah all of Jefferson City and Patrick James and wife Kristin of Columbia; grandchildren, Al, Eliza and Petra, George, Oona (expected in April), Joshua, Noah, Allison, Samuel, Jack, Bridget and Camille; sister, Edith Vogel of Jefferson City; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Kimberly Vogel, LuAnn Mengwasser and husband Jim, Marvin Talken, Leo and Annette Mengwasser, Carl and Ursie Mengwasser, Wayne and Diane Mengwasser and Sandra Mengwasser; and numerous nieces and nephews, particularly Matt and Steve Talken and Jake and Kristen Rose Vogel of whom she was particularly close.
Visitation will held from 3:30-6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with a prayer service at 2:30 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 13, at the Cathedral with the Rev. Stephen Jones and the Rev. Msgr. Robert A. Kurwicki, VG concelebrating. Interment will be in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.
Memorial contributions suggested to the St. Joseph Cathedral Foundation or to St. Joseph Cathedral School.
Arrangements entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City. trimblefunerals.com
