The Rose Garden at Lakeview Park opened in May 1932 and was sponsored by several community organizations, including the Lorain Rotary. The shape of the garden, a wheel with eight spokes, is the Rotary Club emblem. In 2005, the garden was renovated to restore the historical grandeur and beauty while including updates to accommodate accessibility needs.
This page lists all Rose Garden donors and honorees for the past 5 years. Donations will be displayed on this page no later than 30 days after the donation has been completed. Please use the search bar below to search for specific donation entries.
In Memory of Charlotte Herstek
Donor: Scott Stewart
Donation date: August 2024
In Memory of Eileen R. Lindsay
Donor: Friends of Eileen R. Lindsay
Donation date: July 2024
In Loving Memory of Peggy J. Peters
Donors: Friends and Family of Peggy Peters
Donation date: April 2024
In Memory of Mary Knoble
Donors: The family and friends of Mary Knoble
Donation date: April 2024
In Memory of Charles E. Merrick
Donors: Diane and Jeff Nowak, Sydney and Conor Nowak, Debbie and David Bright, David Merrick, Henry Merrick, Ken and Joann Hemminger
Donation date: October 2023
In Memory of Claudia Cullin
Donor name: Lawrence Brown and Family
Donation date: September 2023
In Honor of Sherri L. Bennett
Donor name: Sherri Bennett
Donation date: March 2023
In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Louis C. Bennett
Donor name: Sherri Bennett
Donation date: February 2023
In Memory of John J. Gluvna
Donor name: Joanne Godlewski
Donation date: February 2023
In Memory of our wonderful aunt, Martha Milas
Donor name: Steve, Lauren, Camille, and Ian Samuelson
Donation date: February 2023
In Memory of Neil Sommers
Donor name: Lorain High School Class of 1966
Donation date: December 2022
In Memory of Terry J. Kish
Donor name: Monica and Terrance Tomaszewski
Donation date: November 2022
In Memory of Rita M. Raponi
Donor name: Lakeside 62 Condo Community
Donation date: June 2022
In Memory of Virginia Light Krieg
Donor name: Linda G. Gordon
Donation date: February 2022
In honor of the Lorain High School Class of 1967
Donor name: Lorain High School class of 1967
Donation date: December 2021
In memory of Rebecca Biehler
Donor name: Robert Biehler
Donation date: December 2021
In honor of John A. and Eva L. Costin
Donor name: Dr. and Mrs. John A. Costin
Donation date: December 2021
In loving memory of our beloved grandmother, Colleen Standen
Donor name: The grandchildren of Wayne and Colleen Standen
Donation date: December 2021
In memory of Jane Davidson Mearns and Louis Horkay, Jr.
Donor name: The children of Jane and Louis Horkay - Beth (Dan) Fritz (Paul, Chris, Carrie), Lois (Doug) Unger (Blanton, Mattie), Margaret (Walter) Boswell, Robert (Tammie) Horkay (Chad, Adam, Emily, Neil), Mary (Harold) Hight (Amanda, Allison)
Donation date: December 2021
Jane Davidson Mearns born Greenock, Scotland (1916-2020) immigrated at age 7
Louis Horkay, Jr. born Tiszadob, Hungary (1909-2002) immigrated age 8 months
In honor of Rebecca "Becky" Biehler
“A gift from your sister and brother-in-law!”
Donor name: Annette Biehler & Aaron Treadway
Donation date: September 2021
In memory of Janice and Gary Huntley
“Our mother enjoyed going to Lakeview Park while growing up in Lorain. Our father enjoyed spending many summer days out on the lake fishing and swimming. After getting married our parents made many trips to Lakeview to enjoy the lake and each other's company.”
Donor name: Rachel & Michael Huntley and Lisa & Matthew Huntley
Donation date: August 2021
In memory of our wonderful loving mom, Mary Campana who passed, age 94 in May 2021
Donor name: Family of Mary Campana
Donation date: July 2021
In memory of Terry and Alma Feeley
Donor name: Ellerbrock Family
Donation date: July 2021
In memory of Gail Bara Hurt
Donor name: Joan Bara Brown
Donation date: July 2021
In memory of Alma (Knipper) Feeley and her husband, Terry, the beloved parents of Nancy Feeley and her siblings
“May the beautiful views bring comfort and fond memories of the time shared together at the lake.”
Donor name: Friends and Co-workers of Nancy Feeley
Donation date: July 2021
In memory of Rosemary M. Carrero
Donor name: Anna M. Carrero
Donation date: June 2021
In loving memory of Lila Sprague McGinnis: author, poet, mentor, and friend
Donor name: Lila's Friday Writers
Donation date: April 2021
In memory of Santos Droz
“On angel wings, you were taken away. But in our hearts, you will always stay. You were more than our dad but our best friend and our hero. We love you dad!”
Donor name: Veronica Ward
Donation date: March 2021
In memory of Beth Mitro Gonosey
Donor name: Lorrie Chmura, Anne Bruno, Sue Pagrabs, and Denise Lazzaro
Donation date: March 2021
In memory of Jack B. Barthels
Donor name: Jane Barthels
Donation date: March 2021
In memory of Dr. Thomas Timko
Donor name: Anita & Hector Guzman; Laurel & Bob Vigg; Becky & Roger Farr
Donation date: March 2021
In memory of Angie Hammond
Donor name: Rodney Bowling
Donation date: March 2021
In memory of Susan Raible
Donor name: Carrie Lucas
Donation date: October 2020
In memory of our friend, Jim Sweat
Donation date: August 2020
In memory of Dee Ann Volak
Donor name: The classmates of Dee Ann Volak from Lorain High School, 1980
Donation date: August 2020
In memory of Gladys Jungbluth Wisnieski (1928 - 2019)
“A true nature lover of birds and flowers, "Gramma Gramcracker" spent her life in Sheffield. Despite being terrified of water, she would bring her grandkids to Lakeview Park to picnic and play in the sand. She fully supported the renovation of the gardens and loved the colors and scents. Here she is on her last visit in 2017.”
Donor name: Her loving grandchildren (David, Erica & Chad Boone, Jessica Rodriguez, Sarah Rodriguez Roche, Ryan & Lauren Essex)
Donation date: July 2020
In memory of Antoinette Zinitz
“God’s Gift
What we are is
God’s gift to us
What we become
is our gift to God”
Donor name: Laverne and William Hunady
Donation date: June 2020
In memory of Frank V. Radachi
Donor name: Denise Gross
Donation date: May 2020
In memory of Maureen Campo
“As beautiful and gentle as a rose; you and your memories, always!”
Donor name: Krag and Bobbie Churchill
Donation date: February 2020
In honor of John and Jenny Gregory
“Like these roses, may the freshness of your love remain.
Happy Anniversary
Feb. 14, 2020”
Donor name: Dave and Karen Ennes
Donation date: February 2020
In memory of Adelia Josephine (Miraldi) Harsar (1928-2019)
Donor name: Friends of the Harsar Family
Donation date: June 2019
In Loving Memory of Florence S. Merrick
Donor name: Charles, David, & Henry Merrick; Ken & Joann Hemminger; Diane, Jeff, Sydney, & Conor Nowak; Debbie & David Bright
Donation date: May 2019
In Memory of Dale & June Hahn
Donor name: Lori Haupt
Donation date: May 2019
In Memory of Joan Rush Pirc
Donor name: Shari, Tony, Susan, Joni, Jim, & Jessica Kuznar
Donation date: May 2019
In Memory of Patricia Pirc Hellinger
Donor name: Shari, Tony, Susan, Joni, Jim, & Jessica Kuznar
Donation date: May 2019
In Loving Memory of Diana Lee Hreha (12/15/1963-04/25/2018)
“Even though you've beeen gone for a while fond memories of you still make me smile. We will cherish forever the good times we shared, just hope you know how very much we cared. Such a privilege to have known you, no one can deny, until we meet again, we love you, we miss you, and for now Good-Bye. Your wings were ready but we were not...you'll be with us forever like handprints on our hearts.”
Donor name: Tracy, Mike & Ashley
Donation date: April 2019
In Memory of Theresa Hruby
Donor name: Cookie McLoda
Donation date: April 2019
In Honor of Admiral King Class of '66
Donor name: Admiral King Class of '66
Donation date: November 2018
In Memory of John & Rose Zahratka
Donor name: Cynthia Zahratka
Donation date: November 2018
In Memory of Greg Barr
Donor name: Patti Barr
Donation date: October 2018
In memory of Ernest "Ernie" E. Johnson Sr.
“Ernie was retired from the Ford Motor Company, Lorain Assembly, where he was an inspector. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, cooking, and most of all, spending time with his family.”
Donor name: Debbie Bishop
Donation date: September 2018
In memory of Margaret Czarneski
Donor name: Marguerite Daidone
Donation date: September 2018
In memory of Pamela Kish
Donor name: Marguerite Daidone
Donation date: September 2018
In memory of Kirk B. Roose
“Roose was born in New Haven, CT and spent much of his childhood in Oberlin. He attended Swarthmore College- where he played varsity tennis and met Diana Wickes, who would become his wife of 49 years- the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In 1980 after a stint on the East Coast, they returned to Oberlin, where he started his own law practice, specializing in Social Security disability law. That firm now known as Roose & Reeler, has helped thousands of disabled Ohioans receive SS benefits.
While a Jr. in H.S. in Oberlin he was recruited into a barbershop quartet, who called themselves the Barbersharps. A chord was struck, and barbershop harmony became a hobby. He sang in numerous quartets, directed award winning choruses-including Carnegie Hall as director of the Big Apple Chorus- arranged hundreds of songs which are still sung by groups all over the world.
A member of the religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Roose remained politically active thoughout his life, with special concern for issues of social and economic justice. Early in his career, he worked for Ralph Nader's Center for Study of Responsive Law, as a lawyer for the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors and an attorney for the Fair Share Housing Center in Cherry Hill, NJ.
He enjoyed playing tennis and walking along the shores of Lake Erie.”
Donor name: Law Offices of Roose & Ressler
Donation date: July 2018
In memory of Joanne Getz Popovich
“In her time her Joanne was a beautiful embodiment of human kindness who will be missed greatly and remembered always!”
Donor name: Fran Smith; Peg Asensio; Dolores Kovach; Mary Ellen Guerrieri
Donation date: July 2018
In memory of John Joseph Tomaro Sr.
“Our dad was a loving, supportive father who left this life way too early at the age of 37. He will always be remembered for his love of family, friends, and animals, his sense of humor, and how he loved to agitate everyone. He left behind a beautiful, loving wife, Lillian Mae, and their six children, John Joseph Jr., Janice Lynn, Joann, Joyce Rose, Judy Mae, and Jeanette Pearl. He is missed every day by all who knew and loved him. He is now in heaven with mom, and Janice (Tomaro) Eddy.”
Donor name: Jeanette Eberle
Donation date: March 2018
In memory of Jean Zakutny
Donor name: Zakutny Family
Donation date: February 2018
In memory of Mario Mannarelli
Donor name: Julie Mannarelli
Donation date: February 2018
In memory of Carol Kern
Donor name: Kimberly Moldovan
Donation date: February 2018