ROSALIE H. MERTENS, age 80, of Thorp, WI, recently residing in West Allis, WI, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, WI. 

     Rosalie Helen Kaminski was born on May 21, 1945,  at home in Thorp, WI, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Wegner) Kaminski.  She was raised on the family farm, and received her education in Thorp, graduating from Thorp High School in 1964.  After high school, Rosalie moved to Chicago with her friend Suzanne, and worked for about four years at Western Electric. She then moved back home to Thorp and worked at Post Company in Owen, WI.  Rosalie met the love of her life, Robert “Bob” J. Mertens while participating in a bowling league in Thorp.  They enjoyed bowling and pool with friends for many years.  They were united in marriage by her brother-in-law, Fr. Michael Mertens, on October 17, 1972 at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Willard, WI.  They enjoyed a wonderful road trip honeymoon out west to many states for 13 days.  Rosalie’s dream was to have twins, and her dream came true having a boy and a girl in 1976.  She was a homemaker from marriage until the twins went to high school.  She then worked part-time at BTI in Thorp, and later on at Ike in Stanley, WI.  

     Rosalie had many interests, but especially enjoyed helping Bob with the gardening, canning veggies, baking bread, cakes and cookies, and pies with all the fresh berries she picked, and cooking.  She liked to embroider, try any raffle or lottery, build puzzles, and play bingo.  She loved the outdoors the most, and enjoyed fishing with the family, and deer hunting in her later years.  She was very proud to shoot her first black bear at 76 years old.  She loved the Detroit Lions since she was a child, but also loved the Green Bay Packers.  She was able to attend a Packer game with friends in her single life, and a couple games with her family, with the last one being against the Lions a few years ago.  She loved attending Thorp sports when the twins were in school, and grandchildren’s sports and events.  She also loved the Milwaukee Brewers, listening to them on the radio in the yard, or on TV, and enjoyed a yearly trip to Milwaukee to attend a Brewer game with family.  She enjoyed some traveling in her life: a trip to Brazil in the 1960’s to visit her brother Ted, several trips to Montana, a trip to Texas, a trip back to Chicago to visit people, Mackinac Island, and a fishing trip to Canada with her family.

     Rosalie is survived by her twin children, Dave (Donna) Mertens, of Eldorado, WI, and Diane (Jerry) Leveille, of Wauwatosa, WI; four grandchildren: Carter and Caleb Mertens, and Rachel and Marisa Leveille; siblings: LouAnn Przesmicki of Wausau, WI, Ed Kaminski of Townsend, MT, Monica Kaminski of Stanley, WI, and Ted Kaminski, of Cheverly, MD; and many other nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Elizabeth Kaminski, her husband Bob, and other nieces, nephews, friends and in-laws. 

     Rosalie will be cremated and have graveside services at St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery in Thorp with immediate family at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, Rosalie requested donations be given in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (st.jude.org).