Rosemary’s Obituary Rosemary “Rosie” Werner (Bartl) of New Ulm died Wednesday May 1st, 2019 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am Monday, May 6th, 2019 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Ulm. Visitation will be Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – NORTH Chapel in New Ulm and from 9-11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Burial will be in the New Ulm City Cemetery – Soldier’s Rest Section next to the love of her life, her husband Otto Ignatius Werner. A special “Coffee Toast” to Rosie’s life will take place at a luncheon at the church following the burial ceremony. Rosie is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Melanie Werner and Loren Wheeler of Maple Grove, Heidi and Brian Berle of Shakopee, Ursula and Glen Hillesheim of New Ulm, Anne and Matt Dempsey of Bloomington; sons and daughters-in-law, Anthony and Lori Werner of Bloomington, Timothy Werner of Los Angles, California; grandchildren, Lauryn and Lindsey Werner, Zane and Ryland Overing, Erick Werner, Anthony (Marissa Beiling) and Amber Hillesheim, Emma and Ethan Dempsey; sisters and brother-in-law Rita Bartl and John Houghton of Sauk Rapids and Ruth Mowan; sister and brother-in-law, Betty Gustafson of Port Charlotte, Florida; nieces; and nephews.
She is also survived by special friends Kanika and Kimberly Biv, Kokass Khieu, Nim Mao and Vachana Srey, Veyovouth and Theavy Lach and Chansay Em and Seakly Srun. Rosie was preceded in death by her husband Otto, beloved daughter Rita, parents Anton and Sally (Simmet) Bartl and father and mother-in-law Ignatius and Josephine (Schwartz) Werner. Rosie Werner was born September 29, 1936 in New Ulm Minnesota.
Her youth was spent helping her parents and sisters with the family business, the B & L Bar. The establishment was later sold, but remains one of the oldest operating bars in New Ulm. Rosie attended Holy Trinity Catholic School, where she was voted Homecoming Queen in 1954, the year she graduated.
After a short time at dental school in St. Cloud, Rosie transferred to Mankato State, where her sisters later joined her. It was in German Club at Mankato State that Rosie met her husband of 52 years, Otto Werner. Otto saw Rosie for the treasure that she was.
He loved telling the story of falling in love with her while watching her shoot pool, then wooing her by sitting under her college dormitory window and singing to her until she agreed to go on a date with him. Otto and Rosie were united in marriage on September 6, 1958 in New Ulm and settled in New Ulm to raise their family. Rosie remained active with her family and community, helping Otto organize and operate an annual German Summer Camp near New Ulm for multiple years and then an Ojibwa Native American Summer Camp on the White Earth Reservation.
Rosie also worked tirelessly to help with activities including the New Ulm Concord Singers, of which Otto was a member, as well as Heritagefest, where she helped design and create parade floats, costumes, theatre sets and more. Rosie was a talented artist. She especially enjoying drawing and painting pictures of her friends and family.
She was also a musician, playing piano and drums in high school and college. Her greatest pride, however, were her children and grandchildren. She delighted in spending time with them in her final years at Emerald Crest Community in Shakopee.
The family prefers memorials to Alzheimer’s disease or Cancer related charities or to Cathedral High School of New Ulm.
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