Chester "CJ" Rose, 77, of East Grand Forks, MN, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND, surrounded by family.

CJ was born on September 11, 1948, to Joseph and Marjorie (Ganyo) Rose in Grafton, ND, where he graduated from high school in 1967. A proud Vietnam veteran, CJ served in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1971.

On March 4, 1977, he married his beloved wife, Ellen (Rosencrans) Rose. They enjoyed 49 years of marriage and raised three children together. For many years, CJ maintained the buildings and grounds of Saint Mary's Catholic Church, remaining an active parishioner and integral part of the community after his retirement. He was known for his boisterous personality, one-of-a-kind sense of humor, generosity with his time, eagerness to lend a hand to loved ones and strangers alike, and his uncanny ability to befriend everyone he met.

CJ is lovingly remembered by his wife, Ellen Rose; their children: Deanna (Jay) Kost, Robert (Jennifer) Rose, and Harmony (Loren) Resler; their eight grandchildren: Kayla (Charles) Cooper, Adam (Monica) Kost, Benjamin Kost, Ryan Kost, Anthony Rose, Daniel Rose, Zachary Rose, and Alex Resler; his great-granddaughter, Malia Wilcox; his siblings: Cordell (Alice) Rose, Mark (Sylvia) Rose, Connie (Gary) Knapp, and Lorraine (Robert) Warwas; and his dogs: Missy, Margherita, and Cici.

CJ was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marjorie Rose; his brother, Greg Rose; and his sisters-in-law, Alice and Sylvia Rose.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 16, 2026, in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grand Forks, ND.
Visitation: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a 9:45 a.m. Recitation of the Rosary in the church on Saturday.
Burial: Calvary North Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.
Military Honors: Accorded by members of the American Legion Post 157, the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 3817 and the United States Navy Reserve.