Obituary for Rosella M. Harley (Olson)
Rosella Harley entered into eternal life on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at the age of 89.
Rosella Marie Olson was born on a farm in Dunn County, Wisconsin on April 19, 1933, the daughter of Martin & Esther Olson. She was baptized on May 28, 1933 at Barum Lutheran Church and was later Confirmed into the Christian faith on June 8, 1947. She graduated from Colfax High School in 1951.
Rose married Bobby Heitkamp on June 28, 1952 and together they had two lovely daughters, Patricia and Kim. Years later she’d have 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
In 1981 Rose and Bobby were divorced and on August 10, 1991 she married Robert (Bobbie) Harley—the love of her life.
Rose worked at Cutler Hammer as a key punch operator, at Briggs & Stratton on the motor assembly line, and later went back to school and worked as a nursing assistant at Zablocki Veterans Hospital. With the encouragement from the nurses at the VA, Rose went back to school and received her associate degree in nursing. She worked at the VA as an RN until her retirement in 1997.
Rose belonged to the VA Alumni, the Retired Nurses Association, and the American Legion Auxiliary Post #434.
She had a zest for life! Rose was an avid bowler and bowled in 7 national tournaments around the country. She loved to garden and took up silk flower decorating and attended many craft shows. She was a big Packer and Badger fan. She liked casinos, margaritas, and lefse. And she loved traveling! She traveled all over the world—India, Aruba, South Korea, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska and many cruises. When she retired she traveled with Bobbie as a wide-load escort around the country. They also attended lots of military reunions and made good friends there. For many of their later years, Rose and Bob traveled to Florida in the winter, the last dozen in Destin.
Faith was very important to Rose. She attended a long-running Bible study with friends from Ebenezer Evangelical Free Church, and later found a faith home at Harvest Community Church.
Rosella was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Lillian, Nancy, and Marlene, ex-husband Bobby Heitkamp, son-in-law John Miller, and beloved husband Robert Harley.
Rose is survived by daughters Pat Miller and Kim (Doug) Grapel, step children Kathy Harley, Robert (Dana) Harley II, Arthur (Rhonda) Harley, Jeffrey Harley, and Michael Harley, sisters Etta Hobbick and Eunice (Cal) Maier, grandchildren Erin Lasocki, Jessica (Joe) Stewart, Alexis (Ray) Twito-Gates, John (Rebecca) Twito, and Adam Twito, and step-grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many other friends and family members.
Visitation will be held at Harvest Community Church (6612 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek) on Friday, October 7th from 3:30PM-5:30PM. Memorial service at church on Friday at 5:30.
Rosella Marie Olson was born on a farm in Dunn County, Wisconsin on April 19, 1933, the daughter of Martin & Esther Olson. She was baptized on May 28, 1933 at Barum Lutheran Church and was later Confirmed into the Christian faith on June 8, 1947. She graduated from Colfax High School in 1951.
Rose married Bobby Heitkamp on June 28, 1952 and together they had two lovely daughters, Patricia and Kim. Years later she’d have 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
In 1981 Rose and Bobby were divorced and on August 10, 1991 she married Robert (Bobbie) Harley—the love of her life.
Rose worked at Cutler Hammer as a key punch operator, at Briggs & Stratton on the motor assembly line, and later went back to school and worked as a nursing assistant at Zablocki Veterans Hospital. With the encouragement from the nurses at the VA, Rose went back to school and received her associate degree in nursing. She worked at the VA as an RN until her retirement in 1997.
Rose belonged to the VA Alumni, the Retired Nurses Association, and the American Legion Auxiliary Post #434.
She had a zest for life! Rose was an avid bowler and bowled in 7 national tournaments around the country. She loved to garden and took up silk flower decorating and attended many craft shows. She was a big Packer and Badger fan. She liked casinos, margaritas, and lefse. And she loved traveling! She traveled all over the world—India, Aruba, South Korea, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska and many cruises. When she retired she traveled with Bobbie as a wide-load escort around the country. They also attended lots of military reunions and made good friends there. For many of their later years, Rose and Bob traveled to Florida in the winter, the last dozen in Destin.
Faith was very important to Rose. She attended a long-running Bible study with friends from Ebenezer Evangelical Free Church, and later found a faith home at Harvest Community Church.
Rosella was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Lillian, Nancy, and Marlene, ex-husband Bobby Heitkamp, son-in-law John Miller, and beloved husband Robert Harley.
Rose is survived by daughters Pat Miller and Kim (Doug) Grapel, step children Kathy Harley, Robert (Dana) Harley II, Arthur (Rhonda) Harley, Jeffrey Harley, and Michael Harley, sisters Etta Hobbick and Eunice (Cal) Maier, grandchildren Erin Lasocki, Jessica (Joe) Stewart, Alexis (Ray) Twito-Gates, John (Rebecca) Twito, and Adam Twito, and step-grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many other friends and family members.
Visitation will be held at Harvest Community Church (6612 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek) on Friday, October 7th from 3:30PM-5:30PM. Memorial service at church on Friday at 5:30.