Rosella H. Vieregge, 81, of Norwalk passed away on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center in Sparta.
She was born Dec. 16, 1927, in Waterford, Wis., to Edward and Mary (Esselman) Fiebig. She grew up in Tunnel City, Wis., and graduated from Tomah High School.
She worked at the La Crosse Garment Factory, where she began what would be a lifelong love of sewing. On Labor Day, 1955, she met her future husband, Norbert Vieregge, at the Avalon Ballroom. They were married Sept. 15, 1956, at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomah. Together they raised four children as they worked the family farm in rural Norwalk.
In 1991 they retired and moved to Norwalk. In their retirement, Rose and Norbert enjoyed traveling, visiting family and sightseeing in Florida, Texas, California, Washington D.C. and many other places in between. Having met at the Avalon, they enjoyed going to dances as often as they could.
Rose was an accomplished seamstress, sewing anything from baby clothes to wedding dresses and men’s suits. She also enjoyed gardening, crafts, music, and her job as a floral merchandiser at several local Walmart stores. Rose loved having her family near her and looked forward to holidays and any occasions their children and grandchildren would be together with her. She had a very deep faith in God and passed that on to her family. Her kind, caring and gentle spirit will always be with us.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Norbert of Norwalk; her daughters, Kathy (Skip) Karis of Onalaska, Wis., Carol (Tom) Brekke of Duluth, Minn., and Mary Kay (Bill) Nusse of Norwalk; a son, Mike Vieregge of Fort Myers, Fla.; and eight grandchildren, Thomas, Kelsey, and Eric Brekke, Brandon, Brittany and Billy Nusse, and Robert and Ryan Vieregge.
She is further survived by a brother, Robert Fiebig, of West Bend, Wis.; two sisters, Lucille Fiebig, of La Crosse and Marcella (Werner) Deigmann, of Onalaska; two sisters-in-law, Nancy Fiebig of Racine and Eileen Keip of Madison; and nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Clarence; a brother-in-law, Lester Keip; and a sister-in-law, Margaret Fiebig.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Norwalk. Father Keith Kitzhaber and Father James Miller will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in St. Augustine’s Catholic Cemetery, Norwalk. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 4–7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, with a 7 p.m. rosary, at the church. Family and friends may also call from 10 a.m. until services Tuesday at the church. The Torkelson Page-Smith Funeral Home in Norwalk is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association and St. Augustine’s Handicapped Access Fund in memory of Rosella. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
The family wishes to give their special thanks to the caring and supportive staff at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center and Gundersen Lutheran Hospice.
