Rosemarie Knoop

Rosemarie Knoop, age 87, of Neillsville, WI died Thursday, July 5, 2018 at the Neillsville Retirement Community, where she had been residing.

Rosemarie “Rose” was born on November 18, 1930 in Neillsville the daughter of Herman and Hannah (Harder) Hediger Sr. She attended school in Christie and graduated from Neillsville High School. Rose married Robert Knoop on June 1, 1951.

Rose was first a wife and mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Rose cared for her daughter, Beverly, for 63 years. Among her hobbies was gardening, canning and watching their birds.

Mom was a strong-willed and determined lady with a heart of gold. She loved gardening, cooking and canning vegetables for their garden; or picking apples at a local orchard. She always enjoyed showing the grandchildren how to make chores fun or how to make cookies or applesauce.

By no means did Mom have an easy life from working at Hediger Dairy or on the family farm in Montana during planting and harvest season, but her real test came with the birth of their first child, Beverly. Beverly was born with a severe case of cerebral palsy. Mom and Dad were told that Beverly would not live past three years old and should be institutionalized and forgotten. Not Mom, she never gave up on trying to make Beverly walk and talk up until they could no longer take care of her three years before Beverly passed away at the age of 66.

Dad and Mom loved to go dancing with friends on Saturday night. Mom didn’t like flash but she had a lot of class.

God called upon Dad earlier this year for it was time to give Beverly dance lessons and now Mom was called upon so they can dance together in Heaven.

Rose is survived by two children, Steve (Margaret) Knoop of Neillsville, WI and Yvonne (Duane) Zais of Kronenwetter, WI. Three grandchildren, Stephanie (Jeff) Gurney of Neillsville, Jeremy (Lacy) Knoop of Neillsville and Ryan Zais of Livonia, MI, four great grandchildren, two sisters, Hanna (Bernie) Opelt of DePere, WI, twin sister, Margaret (Art) Schroeder of Corvalis, MT and a brother, Fritz (Dixie) Hediger of Neillsville.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Robert Knoop, a daughter, Beverly Knoop, two brothers, Kurt Hediger and Herman Hediger Jr.

Funeral Services for Rose will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 9, 2018 at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Pastor Brian Williams will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday at the Gesche Funeral Home. Private burial will be held at the Marie Louise Chapel Cemetery in Christie, WI at a later date.

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Rose’s family with Funeral arrangements.