Rosaline Marie Banna

Rosaline Marie Banna, age 99½, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at her home in Wind Lake, Wisconsin, entering into eternal life. 

Born on February 6, 1926, in Milwaukee, WI, and baptized Rozalia Maria (Rose) she was the beloved daughter of the late Walter and Helen (Bejma) Bartkowiak. Everyone knew her as Rose. She attended Sts Cyril and Methodius Catholic Grade School and was a 1944 graduate of Pulaski High School. Rose chose nursing as a career path and attended 1 year of Marquette Nursing school, finishing her education at South Milwaukee Hospital with an interest in infant and maternal care.

On November 29, 1947, Rose married the love of her life, John J. Banna, at St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Milwaukee. They moved from the Town of Lake to Wind Lake in 1951, where they would ultimately settle in a home lovingly built by John himself. She was devoted to raising their children and creating a warm and welcoming home. Together, they built a beautiful life and family. Her final career was at the Southern Wisconsin Training Center and happily retired in 1988 after 13 years of caring for the physically and mentally handicapped.

Rose held her Catholic faith and community at the center of her life. In 2001, she became a professed Secular Franciscan with John following in his profession a year later. As an active member of St Clare Parish, Rose was an active member in St Clare parish as a lector, Eucharistic minister, member of Christian Women, Human Concerns Committee, St Vincent de Paul Society, and various parish councils. Rose carried her faith to the parish youth as a Faith Formation teacher for 1st, 2nd and 5th grades. She made her final promises in Widows of Prayer and served in the Daughters of Isabella (an auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus). 

Her flame of volunteerism continued within the community, as well. She was a past-President and member of Kulchar-Fohr VFW Women’s Auxiliary 8343, a Life member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Belle City Unit 9, as well as the Racine County Council on Aging and the Coalition of WI Aging Group. Rose stayed active with her children as a 4-H leader and a Leader/life member of the Girl Scouts. For fun with other women in the community, Rose joined the Red Hat Hooters of Wind Lake. In 1997, she began her participation in the Women’s Health Initiative, an ongoing nationwide study of older women focusing on health and long term morbidity/mortality issues. The study was completed in 2024.

Rose enjoyed gardening, crocheting, sewing, oil painting, rosemaling, and the joys and challenges of raising 7 daughters. She and John shared a love of travel after their retirement, spending time exploring the country and visiting family before his passing in 2007.

She is lovingly survived by her children: Katherine (Lee) Amann, Barbara Danza, Mary Beth (Mik) Kafka, Paulette (Malcolm) Fowlie, Denise (Terry Sibley) Banna-Sibley, and Ellen Anderson-Kieffer; her many cherished grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; 4 sisters: Shirley Derezynski, Carolyn Sue Wieczorek, Cindy Reidberger, and Janet Cook, as well as nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband John, daughter Susan Banna, grandaughter Andrea Sharbutt, and 11 siblings.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., at St. Clare Catholic Church (7616 Fritz Street, Wind Lake, WI 53185). A private family burial will take place the following day at the Southeastern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Clare Parish or the St Paschal Baylon Fraternity-SFO. Please send donations to St. Clare Catholic Church, 7616 Fritz St, Wind Lake, WI 53185.

Mealy-Stencel Funeral Home is honored to serve the Banna family.