Rosetta Jane Kazda

Rosetta Jane Brooker Kazda, age 95 died Friday, June 29th at Avanti Health and Rehab in Minocqua, WI. She was born in Minocqua, WI on February 14, 1917. She was the second born of eleven children to George and Ella Ahlborn Brooker. When she was one, her parents moved the family to Camp Highlands on Plum Lake, where George served as caretaker for 7 years. Camp Highlands is the oldest boy’s camp still operating in the northwoods. The growing family moved to Glenbrook Farm on Plum Lake when Rosetta was 8 years old. They farmed there for 8 years before moving into the village of Sayner, where George became janitor of the grade school. At the age of 16, Rosetta served as the first operator of the telephone in Hatches Store in Sayner. She graduated from Eagle River Union Free High School (Northland Pines) in 1936, and found employment in the ensuing years in Chicago, as a companion and house maid to an elderly lady. She and her sister Almeda formed wonderful lifelong friendships with several other young ladies working in the same capacity in the big city. She returned to Sayner in the early 1940’s and in 1945 married Charles James Kazda, when he finished serving in the U.S. Army overseas. Charles worked as a carpenter until he and Rosetta both retired in the mid 1970’s. They raised 6 children and were active members of their community. Rosetta became an avid golfer in her later years, joining Charlie in his passion for the game. Hardly a day passed that they didn’t walk nine holes wherever they were located. They traveled as much as possible. Over the years they spent time in Alaska; spent winter months in Tucson, AZ and various locations in Florida and Texas. They made many friends along the way as they drove the highway and byways of America. Rosetta was a 50 year, plus, member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 451, of Boulder Junction and Sayner. Every Memorial Day she felt it her duty and honor to sell poppies to help raise funds for veterans. Rosetta was a charter member of Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church. She sang in the choir, served on various committees, and taught Sunday School and Bible School over the years. Rosetta was a newspaper correspondent for the Vilas County News for 11 years, writing a weekly column of Sayner news and events. Rosetta was a charter member of the Plum Lake Women’s Club which was organized in the early 1950’s. At age 93, Rosetta moved to Elkhorn, WI., where she resided with her son, Charles Jr. and family. She returned in fall of 2011 to reside in Avanti Health and Rehab in Minocqua. Her heart never left Sayner and her family and all her memories of growing up there. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. She will be remembered for her gentle character, her participation in civic and social affairs, and willingness to help wherever she could. She worked all her life, in and out of her home, but was always there for her family and was a strong influence in all their lives, believing in her God and country and community. Rosetta was preceded in death by her husband Charlie of 56 years, her parents, her twin brother, Burton, a sister, Almeda Grzanic, brother Robert, killed in service in 1945, a brother George and a sister Laura Bell. She is survived by 6 Children: Bernard (Janet) of St. Germain, WI; Kathleen (Donald) Eliason of St. Germain, WI; Shirley (Robert) Chernouski of Hayden, ID; Charles Jr. (Ivy) of Elkhorn, WI; Mary (Alan) Hill of St. Maries, ID and John (Joan) of Sayner. She is further survived by her brother Richard (Florence) Brooker of Sayner, WI and her sisters: Lillian Crall of Sayner and Angeline Hoppe of Rhinelander. She will be dearly missed by her 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild and by many nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, July 2nd at 1:00 PM at Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Sayner, WI with a visitation from 12:00 noon till time of service. Burial will be the Plum Lake Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com NIMSGERN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES OF WOODRUFF, WI IS SERVING THE FAMILY.