RosaLea was a member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, East Saint Louis, IL. RosaLea graduated 8th grade from a one room school during the Great Depression and attended high school in Vienna, MO. She went on to beauty college and became a beautician in 1943 and then attended St. Louis Rivet School. She became a riveter during World War II and worked at Curtis Wright as “Rosie the Riveter”.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph “ The Barber” Arthur Withouse, whom she married on November 16, 1946, and who died on January 11, 1989; a daughter, Rhonda Withouse; a son, Stacy Withouse; her parents, Joseph F. and Ellen “Nellie”, nee Campbell, Heimann; five sisters, Margaret Heimann, Ann Huelsman, Agnes Reinsch, Marie Wallace, and Nellie Jean Schneider; a brother, Herbert Heimann; and a son-in-law, Lawrence, “Larry” Biegler.
Surviving are a daughter, Rochelle “Shelly” Biegler of Belleville, IL;
a son, Marty (Kim) Withouse of Millstadt, IL;
a daughter-in-law, Donna Withouse of Jefferson City, MO;
six grandchildren, Staci (Trey) Kampeter, Mackenzie Biegler, Maggie Hughes, Max Hughes, James Patrick Withouse, and Emma Withouse;
two great-grandchildren, Reece and Gwen Kampeter;
two sisters-in-law, Mary Heimann, and Dorletha Withouse;
and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Memorials may be made to St. Augustine’s of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, or to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, East Saint Louis, IL. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit with the family from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, September 8, 2018, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. September 8, 2018, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee and Fr. Gene Neff concelebrating.
Burial will be at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.