Johanna (“Jo”) Elizabeth Rosby, age 79, of Wild Rose, Wisconsin, formerly of Wautoma, Wisconsin, passed away Wednesday morning, Jan. 9, 2019, at UW-Hospital in Madison. She was born Dec.
22, 1939 in Merrill, Wisconsin, the daughter of Glen and Margaret (Torkelson) Clark. She married Herbert T. Rosby on June 23, 1962 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Merrill. Johanna graduated from Merrill High School in 1958, and from Central State Teacher’s College (now UW-Stevens Point) in Stevens Point in 1962.
Johanna, her mother, and her sister were all president of Nelson Hall during their time in college. Johanna taught kindergarten in Champaign, Illinois, and LaGrange, Illinois. She took a break from teaching to raise her family, and then taught first grade in Palos Hills, Illinois.
Johanna retired from teaching in 1999 when she and her husband moved to Wautoma. Johanna enjoyed singing, knitting, crocheting, sewing, bowling, golfing, and spending time with family. She was an avid reader and belonged to a local book club in Wild Rose, Wisconsin.
As part of her daily devotions, she read the Bible in its entirety 13 times in the past 12 years. Johanna loved to bake, and she decorated many special cakes for family and friends over the years. She enjoyed sharing the fruits of her baking with others, and one Christmas made 155 dozen cookies to give away to friends, family, and local care centers.
Johanna also made the lefse for Mt. Morris Holden Lutheran Church’s sesquicentennial open house celebration in 2004. She was a member of Mount Morris Holden Lutheran Church and formerly belonged to Grace Lutheran Church in LaGrange, Illinois where she was a member and past president of the LCW (Lutheran Church Women).
Survivors include her loving husband of 56 years, Herbert T. Rosby, Wild Rose; two daughters, Lisa (Todd) Aldrich, Lakeville, MN and Heidi Rosby, Green Bay; four grandchildren, Ryan, Emily, Joshua, and Megan Aldrich; one sister, Catherine (Kenn) Spatz, Racine; two sisters-in-law, Patt Clark, Milwaukee, and Faye Clark, Merrill. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and by two brothers, David Clark and Norman Clark.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Morris Holden Lutheran Church, N3388 State Road 152, Wautoma with Pastor Barb Girod officiating. A luncheon will be served at the church following the service.
Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in Johanna’s memory.
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