Phyllis E Rothe's Obituary
Phyllis (Berger) Rothe passed away at her home on John’s Lake, on February 28, 2016 of cancer with her family by her side. Phyllis was the daughter of Frank and Mary (Zarda) Berger, born on April 23, 1930.
She is survived by three wonderful sons and special daughters-in-law, eight cherished grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and three step- great-grandchildren: Tom and Patty - Jillian (Steve Worster) with Evelyn, Kristen, Brian (Jamie) and Danny (Margaret Merrill); Jim - his children Jamie (Jason Mata) with Chance and Cayden, Jared, Journie, and Jory, and Mike (Amanda Bintz) with Sara; and Pat and Cathy with twins Jennifer (Ryan Goggans), and Stephanie (John Thiel).
Phyllis never had a voice lesson but enjoyed singing in choirs from the Sacred Heart Grade School, South Park Chorus, Ladies' Sacred Heart, and the ultimate Oshkosh High School A Capella Choir under the direction of Mr. Fred Leist, finishing up at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Redgranite.
Her Faith was very important to her. Phyllis enjoyed arranging flowers for the altar at St. Mark's. She felt honored to be able to take Communion to over thirty shut-ins before they passed away.
She first retired at age 82 from the Gables Gift Shop, where she worked for twenty-three years, and started to work only after her late husband, Ken, had passed away in 1985. During that time Phyllis also worked 20 tax seasons at her son's business, Tom A. Rothe, CPA's.
All grandchildren received hand-knit patterned sweaters and scrapbook albums depicting birth through 18.
Earlier in life, she enjoyed traveling to Tahiti, Australia, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Okinawa, London, Copenhagen, Canada, Mexico, and many of the states including Hawaii.
Phyllis is further survived by her sister, Lorraine Kuehn, and several nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, stepfather, and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Russ Williquette and her brother-in-law, George Kuehn.
Phyllis was also interested in her casket. The casket she selected was hand made by the Trappist monks of New Melleray Abbey. Beyond the casket, they also will be providing a memorial service and planting a tree in her honor.
Our family wishes to thank the Affinity Visiting Nurses hospice services for their outstanding support of us and care for our mother which allowed her to live out her final days in the peace of her home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Phyllis on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Jude Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, corner of Sixth and Knapp in Oshkosh. The Rev. Matt Simonar and Rev. William Van DeKreeke as celebrants. Interment will follow in Riverside Catholic Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held on Friday evening at the Poklasny Funeral Home, 870 W. South Park Ave. from 4-7 p.m. with a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established at Wautoma Library, St. Mark's Catholic Church in Redgranite and the American Cancer Society
"Heaven must be wonderful as I feel I have been there, swimming and enjoying the peace and tranquility of Johns Lake for thirty years full time, weekends and summers before that starting in 1965. I am looking forward to meeting my father who died accidentally when I was two weeks old and my three babies lost in miscarriage." ~Phyllis Rothe, 2016
Poklasny Funeral Home
870 W. South Park Ave.
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