Rosalie Mary Fashingbauer

“Jesus said… ‘Today salvation has come to this house… For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” -- Luke 19:9-10

It was with unfailing faith, fortitude, and courage that Rosalie Mary Fashingbauer transcended earthly life and found her eternal home on the crisp, sunny morning of May 6, 2020. Born the sixth of seven daughters to Rose (Kaiser) and Clarence “Mike” Elliott on June 2, 1928, in Lac du Flambeau, she entered a world of uncertainty and sacrifice, but also a time of simplicity, family unity and abiding love.

Rosalie attended grade school in Lac du Flambeau, her first year of high school in Minocqua, and the remaining three years at Woodruff High School, where she was a ferocious starting center on the girls’ basketball team, a sport which claimed her heart. At 17, the shy, pretty redhead met an equally shy young builder, just home from the war, when he spotted her pumping gas at Elliott’s Garage, her father’s business; and from then on, constantly had an empty gas tank! Rosalie worked at the garage while her father was ill, as a secretary at the grade school, and as a postal clerk at the LDF post office. After 7 years of courtship, Rosalie married her beloved Joe, and they started their life on Moss Lake, where they lived for nearly fifty years, raising 4 children. She was a devoted Christian, mother, daughter, wife, sister, aunt and grandmother, selflessly doing for others and striving to live a Christ-like life, caring lovingly for her Joe when Alzheimer’s took its toll.

When her children were nearly grown, Rosalie went back to work at Perkin’s Studio for photographer Audrey Perkins, then later worked in billing at Howard Young Medical Center until her retirement. After that, her grandchildren became her first love, making each of them feel as if s/he were the only child in her universe. Ask any of them about bingo parties with food and quarters and cousins abounding, and they would all agree that any time with her was magical. She also passed on to them her passion for classic movies with her carefully catalogued collection of hundreds of VHS tapes. And who could forget her weekly Friday afternoon cocktail parties with the family, at which she sipped her one Manhattan (two olives!) and spun a web of family lore?

Rosalie died as she lived…beautifully and bravely. She will be missed by all who knew her, including her children, Mike (Diane), Steve (Pam), Dan, and Martha (Mike) Handrick; her grandchildren, Rebecca (Dave) Eldredge, Luke (Katie), Jake (Sarah), Michelle (Will) Stewart, Rachel, Joe, Christiana, Michael, Julia, Paul, Jennie, Zeke (Stacey), Erik, Angela (Kyle) Cleveland, Ben, and Melanie (Randy) Holcombe; her great grandchildren, Grant, Hudson, Lincoln, Patrick, Camille, Savannah, Abby, Stanley, Paisley, Nathan, Wesley, Finn, Leo and Brant; her sister Marilyn Nohr, and many nieces, nephews and lifetime friends. She has reunited with her loving husband Joe, her precious great grandson Cal Jackson Cleveland and many other friends and family who welcome her home.

At her request, no service will be held, and she will rest next to Joe and her parents at Memorial Cemetery in Lac du Flambeau. Anyone who wishes to honor her memory may donate to the Salvation Army or Ascension Hospice, whom we thank for their loving and tireless care.

Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com

NIMSGERN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES IS SERVING THE FAMILY.