of Conway, AR

December 26, 1942 - December 17, 2025

Rosemarie (Albrecht) McKenzie, 82, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully on December 17th, 2025, at her home in Conway, Arkansas. Born on December 26th, 1942, in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, to Hans and Anna (Haas) Albrecht, she was the baby of four children. In 1962, she moved to Arkansas, where she was a devoted and loving wife for nearly 50 years and raised her adored children, Steven (Suz) McKenzie, Brenda (Brad) Turner, Sharon (Tom) Cecil, and Scott (Lori) McKenzie.

She so much enjoyed spending time with her children, especially going to flea markets and fishing with her sons, as well as thrift shopping and traveling with her daughters. She was thrilled to be able to go back to her beloved homeland many times over the years, reminiscing about her German heritage more as the years went by. But as nostalgic as she may have been about her birthplace, Rosemarie was a red, white, and blue American and truly loved this country that took her in so long ago. She took pleasure in American pastimes such as camping and waterskiing, which she enjoyed into her 60s. She learned how to prepare American dishes and was known far and wide for her excellent cooking and baking. One of her favorite things was providing delicious meals for her family, and she loved making beautiful Christmas cookies and sharing them with friends and family.

In true German spirit, Rosemarie applied tremendous effort to every aspect of her life. Incredibly and bravely, her love of learning led her later in life to go back to school and obtain her Associate's Degree (2004), Bachelor's Degree (2005), and Master's Degree in Family and Consumer Science (2007). She took that knowledge into a new career that included working for the University of Arkansas' Melbourne County Cooperative Extension Service as a County Agent, as well as becoming a German instructor at the University of Central Arkansas, an accomplishment of which she was very proud.

In her free time, Rosemarie loved her flowers and her gardening with a passion and was recognized as a lifelong Master Gardener. She enjoyed taking care of her chickens and her precious dog, Lizzie, her companion for 16 years. Her beautiful home was a showplace of her talents and hard work, receiving so many compliments over the years. She had a wonderful flair for decorating and made sure the holidays, especially Christmas, were warm and inviting for all who came to visit, especially her grandchildren. Mamaw always had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren, Amy (Bobby) Whitener, Josh Turner, Cody (Billy) McKenzie, Emily (Josh) Kester, Caleb (Mikala) McKenzie, Rebekah Turner, Kate Turner, Anna Beth Turner, and Samantha Cecil. She also loved being Mamaw to her great-grandchildren, Adigail, Madison and Silas Whitener, Laura and Lucida McKenzie, and Paisley McKenzie, and was so looking forward to meeting Lily Rose McKenzie and Baby Kester in the coming year.

Rosemarie had a wide and diverse circle of friends, including her German friends from her childhood and those she met later in life. She also loved being among her dear friends at the senior center, where she spent many hours of companionship in her later years. She was known for her intelligence, her generosity, her resourcefulness, and her incredible strength during times of difficulty.

A child of God, Rosemarie found herself drawing closer to her faith in her latter days, and we find comfort knowing she is safe in the arms of Jesus and at peace. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Ursula Alexander, her brothers-in-law, James Alexander and Fritz Klumb, and her sister-in-law, Uschi Albrecht. She leaves behind her devoted sister, Anneliese Klumb, her big brother, Hans Albrecht, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Rosemarie chose to be cremated and requested that her ashes be returned to Germany and spread over the beautiful Nahe River that flows beneath her childhood home. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 27th, 2025, at 2:00pm at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway, Arkansas, with a visitation being held an hour prior.

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