Rosemary T. Deitsch, 75, Rockford, passed away at 2 p.m. Oct. 20, 2013, at Colonial Nursing Center, Rockford, where she had been a patient.

She was born Dec. 15, 1937, in Chicago, Ill., to Francis and Henrietta (Hirth) Fowler. On Nov. 27, 1959, she married John Deitsch, who preceded her in death on Sept. 9, 2009. She lived in the area since about 1968.

Surviving are three sons, Aaron Lee Deitsch, Rockford, Jon Scott (Gaylene) Deitsch, Celina, and Greg (Renee) Deitsch, Celina; five grandchildren, Jason, Jacob, Sarah, Hallie, and Hollie Deitsch; two brothers, Edward (Sharon) Fowler, Celina, and Raymond Fowler, Itasca, Ill.; two sisters, Lorraine Heiland, Celina, and Margaret (Charles) Muhlenkamp, Urbana; and a brother-in-law, Carl Deitsch, Celina.

Deceased are two brothers, Donald and Robert Fowler; a sister, Delores Deitsch; a sister-in-law, Pat Fowler; and a brother-in-law, Norman Heiland.

She retired from Huffy's Bicycle Manufacturing in Celina after working 30 years as a wheel lacer. She was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church, Rockford, and a member of the United Steel Workers. She was an avid gardener, taking great pride in her flowers and her yard. She loved her family, and when she became a grandmother, she enjoyed buying gifts for the grandchildren and baby-sitting them. She loved singing karaoke and also enjoyed having all the family over for big family meals, where she always served lots of potato salad, mashed potatoes and her favorite, chicken. She also enjoyed giving cookies and pop to the local police who sat in front of her home, checking on the cars entering and leaving the corporation limit. She always appreciated their efforts in making Rockford a safe place in which to live.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. on Oct. 25, 2013, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Rockford, with the Rev. Ken Alt officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Thursday and 9:30-10:15 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to Colonial Nursing Center Activities Fund or to Community Health Professionals, Celina.

Condolences may be expressed at ketchamripley.com.