Family, Marines wish World War II veteran a happy 90th birthday
More than 100 members of a large Lake County family and representatives from the U.S. Marine Corps came together on Saturday to celebrate the 90th birthday of World War II veteran Raymond Rosing.
Rosing will turn 90 on Monday, but his family surprised him with a brunch celebration at Key Lime Cove in Gurnee. Local Marines made note of his Purple Heart and Silver Star medals for service in the Pacific theater.
Rosing, of Ingleside, was married to his wife Jeanne for 59 years before she died and together the couple had eight children - Linda, Larry, Lee, Laurie, Lois, Linnea, Lisa and Les - 30 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren.
Rosing has been in the hospital three times in the past month with a recent stroke and car accident, but was still full of smiles for all the family members wishing him "Happy Birthday."
"I was very surprised," Rosing said while his wheelchair was surrounded by grandchildren and great grandchildren. "It's very nice for everyone to be here."
A three-tier decorated birthday cake recognized the most important facets of Rosing's life - freedom, family and faith. "He was a wonderful father. He worked two jobs his whole life to support us," said daughter Lois Reeves of Libertyville. "He was just very loving, very kind." "He was always there for all of us," said daughter Linda Dangel of Gages Lake.
She remembered one year he made violins for several of them out of plywood for a school play even though he was busy with working and supporting the family.
Reeves said her father was also a founding member of Indian Hill Bible Church in Ingleside and that her parents instilled a strong sense of faith in their family.
Rosing taught Sunday school classes in his car when the church was too small, one of his daughters remembered.
He is also a huge Bears fan and never misses a game, family said. His children said that many years ago he was scouted for the NFL, but joined the Marine Corps instead.
He was deployed to the Marshall Islands and Guam where he was wounded and spent 16 months in the hospital, his family said.
A commendation letter from the U.S. government rewarding Rosing with the Silver Star for bravery reads: "Volunteering to recover an important heavy machine gun when the crew was killed by hostile gunfire, Private Rosing moved forward with a comrade to the isolated and fire-swept terrain and, placing the gun in a more favorable position, laid down a devastating barrage against the enemy. By his courageous action, initiative and zealous devotion to duty, Private Rosing contributed materially to the success of the operation against the enemy and upheld the highest traditions of the United Stations Naval Service."
Family members said Rosing never told a lot of stories about his time at war, but they were always proud of his service.
"He inspired me to go into the service," said son Lee Rosing, who served in the Army. "He always worked so hard for his family."