The family of Rose Younger is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver of the vehicle involved in her fatal hit and run accident earlier this year. She was walking home from St. Patrick’s Parish Center around 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 when she was struck by a vehicle. 

Younger was found unconscious, steps from her home, by a man and his family on their way to the church. Several others stopped to assist her as well, and family members said they are forever grateful for them and their compassion. Younger regained consciousness at the local hospital, but passed away from her injuries hours later.

Rose’s granddaughter, Melissa Loerke, provided some family memories:

“It is hard to sum up such a beautifully-lived life into a short narrative. Rose was a faithful churchgoer and Daughter of Isabella who also loved drinking wine and playing cards with her friends. She would play a wildly amusing game of Sour Apples to Apples with her family while sipping on a rum and coke, likely from the bottle that she had brought with her herself. She was the best baby-holder and snuggler and could beat all of her great-grandchildren at gin rummy. She was adventurous and loved to travel. She went tubing with her grandchildren at their last big family trip to the lake and went snow sledding behind the four-wheeler with them during the last snowfall when her grandchildren were in Great Bend.

“She was kind and thoughtful, she never forgot a birthday or a prayer hour or a friend in need. She volunteered at the church and assisted her friends with shopping, taking them to appointments and baking them meals. She made the best coconut cream pie and mauldash (a German dumpling with hand-picked wild blackberries from her garden). She loved gardening and would share her flowers with anyone. She went to exercise classes and visited with her friends at the Town and Country Racquet Club. She shared stories and pictures of her great-grandchildren and loved all of her family unconditionally. 

“She missed her husband something awful, and loved reminiscing about their life together. She was unlike most 90 year olds you’ll meet and she had so much more to do on this earth. She had so many more trips to plan with her family, baby snuggles to soak up and birthday and holiday parties to attend. She had so many friends in need of her help and family in need of her presence. 

Rose had so much left to give and to receive, and to teach and to learn, and her friends and family miss her dearly.

“Rose’s family is asking for any information regarding her accident. They are hoping not only for closure, but also to bring awareness to whatever caused the accident in hopes of preventing it from happening again,” Loerke said. The $10,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible party. People may contact the Great Bend Police Department, 620-793-4120, with any information.