Rosemary A. Parsons

Rosemary Alice Parsons, age 86, of Stockbridge, Wisconsin passed peacefully on April 6, 2021, with family by her side. She was born July 9, 1934 in Stockbridge, daughter of the late Rose (Nadler) and John Cornelius Hemauer, stepdaughter of the late Henry J. Mueller. The youngest of 15 brothers and sisters, Rosemary loved life, people, places and animals.
After receiving her nursing degree from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Milwaukee in 1956, Rosemary began her career as an RN in Fond du Lac at Saint Agnes Hospital, was a nurse in charge at the Lutheran Home for seniors for many years, and in her later career was a nurse at the Taycheedah Correctional Institution for women.
She married her life-long partner Robert Oliver Parsons on August 25, 1956 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stockbridge. They began their journey together with careers in Fond du Lac while maintaining strong ties to the life and love of family and close friends in Stockbridge. Rosemary was a woman of strong faith and conviction, highly social, a vocal leader, and not afraid to represent others she saw needing help. Thoughtful of others more than herself, Rosemary lived to serve. She brought joy and life to many rooms and people through her humor, sparkle, kindness, strength, energy, beautiful smile and cheerful laugh. Her passions were around nursing, supporting the extended family and living life to its fullest. Constant themes of her giving and enjoyment were community and church volunteerism, singing in the choir, playing her piano and bells, sturgeon spearing, years of tirelessly organizing the infamous and rather large Hemauer family picnics.
She loved her time at the family cabin in Conover, Vilas County for many years. She loved to cook and was an accomplished seamstress and knitting enthusiast. Her competitive spirit showed up often in games, cards, and selected outdoor activities that included cross country skiing - before anyone else was doing it, flag football – the only mom on the field, riding bicycle to work every day - rain or shine, and fishing on lake Winnebago with her husband Bob, also known as RO or Old Number 9. Together they conspired regularly on the fabrication of catch and size of fish.
Survivors include her husband Robert O. Parsons; children: Sue (Peter) Stroukoff, Laurie Parsons (Mark Lindborg), Jim (Cindy) Parsons; 5 grandchildren: Katharine (Will) Chemelewski, Alexandra Parsons; Maria Stroukoff, Analise Lindborg, and Ben Parsons; siblings Doris Zahringer and John (Jean) Hemauer and many nieces/nephews and grand-nieces/nephews.
Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings: Lucille, Mabel, Leo, Joseph, Alfred, Robert, Jerome, Francis, Walter, James, Clarence, Elaine; and granddaughter Jamie Parsons.
A mass in Rosemary’s memory will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stockbridge, Wisconsin on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at 11:00 am. Family and friends are invited to join family to share memories and celebrate her life prior to the mass between 9:00 and 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donation in her honor to Eastshore Humane Association in Chilton, WI or your local animal shelter of choice.
The family sincerely thanks Rosemary’s care team for their passionate and dedicated service including: The Waterford at Hartford Assisted Living for the flexible sincere care and Preceptor Home Health Hospice for the comprehensive and compassionate support. These care professionals took great care of Rosemary, her husband Robert, and her family.