| Notes |
- Rosella Vander Heiden, 96, Neenah, passed away at home August 23, 2012, accompanied by her loving family. Rosella was born in the Town of Kaukauna, April 24, 1916, daughter of John and Jenny Kerrigan, and grew up on a farm near Wrightstown. After marrying Ray Vander Heiden on June 15, 1939, the newlyweds purchased a farm in the Town of Kaukauna. He preceded her in death on January 22, 2009. The couple left dairy farming in 1947 but still possessed quite a few acres for crops and a large vegetable garden. The urge never left, however, and Ray and Rosella purchased a large dairy farm in the Town of Clayton just west of Neenah in 1953. Although dairy farming was her passion, she also was proud to be an elementary teacher at several schools throughout her life. An avid quilter and card player, Mom enjoyed traveling, and was the driving force behind taking the whole family on a road trip in 1962 to Yellowstone, Seattle's World Fair, Disneyland and points in between. She also visited family over the years in California, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. She and Ray went on a bus tour to Quebec which they thoroughly enjoyed.
Rosella was active in the Winnebago County Holstein Breeders Association, the Wisconsin Holstein Association, and the National Holstein Association. Together with her husband, she enjoyed raising and managing prized Holstein dairy animals.
She is survived by a son, Wayne (Sara) Vander Heiden, Greenville; four daughters: Mary Jane Volkman, Neenah; Joanne (Mike) Norton, Princeton; Donna (Mike) Hadler, Menasha; and Sarah (Will) Grotjan, Neenah; 13 grandchildren: Lisa (Erick) Wahlfeld, Mike Vander Heiden, both of Greenville; Rick (Denise) Vander Heiden, McKinney, TX; Jessica (Tim) Kudzia, Abingdon, MD; John (Amy) Volkman, Brussels, WI; Annie Miller, Neenah; Jenna (Rob) Norton, Melissa (Rob) Curran, both of Ripon; Katie Norton, Madison; Jason Felton, New Haven, CT; Tyler Felton, Menasha; Laura and Billy Grotjan, both of Neenah; 14 great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law: Mary Vander Heiden, Blanche Kerrigan, and Dorothy Kerrigan; many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband and parents; five brothers: Elmer, Earl, Harvey, Gordon, and Patrick Kerrigan; a sister, Gladys Ver Voort; a son, Roger Vander Heiden; and a grandson, David Vander Heiden.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 28, 2012, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 900 Geiger St., Neenah, where Rosella was an original member. Fr. Larry Seidl will officiate. Interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Wrightstown. The family will greet relatives and friends at the church from 9:00 a.m. Tuesday until the time of the Mass. In lieu of flowers, a memorial for Rosella has been established in her name for St. Gabriel Parish.
The family would like to thank all the caregivers at Theda Care at Home, Hospice, and Dr. Curtis Baltz, for their excellent and compassionate care. We also appreciate Fr. Richard Allen, Fr. Larry Seidl, and parish members of St. Gabriel's for their support throughout the years.
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1916 - 2012 (96 years)
