Mrs. Rose Degenhardt

Degenhardt, Rose Marie (nee Belau)Brookfield Passed away at the age of 78 surrounded by family October 27, 2013 at Angel’s Grace Hospice in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Born December 7th, 1934, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Esther (Geschke) and Alexander Belau, Rose pursued life with passion, curiosity, creativity and adventure. Just a few are: biking across Eastern Europe, visiting castles in Scotland, swimming in Hawaii and walking through the Parthenon in Greece. She hand-made porcelain dolls, teddy bears, and quilts for her family and kept up with the daily cross-word, Sudoku, and current events (national as well as the neighborhood). Rose’s cookie jar and fridge were always as full of homemade treats as she was of good advice. Determined, organized, and generous, Rose made the seemingly impossible a reality, pursuing her own education to a doctorate level in teaching while mothering her six children. She encouraged everyone to try, saying failing was better than not trying at all. She generously gave to the Salvation Army and her home cooking was cherished by all including the many meals she happily donated to help feed the hungry through church programs. Rose is preceded in death by her husband Raymond H. Degenhardt (married on December 20th, 1952), and is survived by their six children: Alex (Voula) Degenhardt of Mequon; Mary (Paul) Sneesby of Random Lake; Laura Palmer of Random Lake; Eve Silverstein of Naperville IL; Gina (Mike) Vogl of Fond du Lac; and Lisa (Keran) Farrell of New Berlin. Also survived by fourteen grandchildren: Zoe (Manos) Kastanias; Aleka Degenhardt, George Degenhardt; John Sneesby; Rebecca Sneesby; Joshua (Fan) Sneesby; Heather Leona Palmer; Rachel Silverstein, Anne Silverstein; Katie Vogl; Emma Vogl; Kieran Farrell; Conor Farrell; and Riley Farrell as well as three great-grandchildren: Rylie Sneesby & Ariel Sneesby, and Jillian Sneesby. She is also survived by brother Walter Belau and sister Sylvia Belknapp. Rose is also preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Marilyn Ziesmer, Carol Shearer, and Anne Richter, and son-in-law Frank Palmer. Rose was a graduate of Carroll College (Bachelor of Science) and obtained her Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee and taught 4th grade for years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in the Masonic Society and belonged to the Brookfield Presbyterian Congregation. Visitation will be held Saturday, November 2nd, 10--11:15 a.m. with Services to follow at 11:15 a.m. at the Mealy Funeral Home in Waterford. Burial to be held at Rochester Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are welcome to the Multiple Sclerosis Society to help find a cure for her daughter Gina. Mealy Funeral Home 225 West Main Street (Hwy 83) Waterford, Wisconsin 53185 262-534-2233 www.mealyfuneralhome.com