Rosemary Connolly Olig

Rosemary Connolly Olig was born March 15, 1928, in Portage, Wisconsin, the daughter of Richard James Connolly and Mary Lucille Dartt Connolly and grew up in Markesan with an older brother, Keefe, and a younger sister, Lucille. Rosemary graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Fond du Lac. On April 23, 1949, Rosemary married Conrad Olig in Markesan. They had five children: Maribeth (Ed) Blake, Steven (Mary) Olig, Jeffrey (Julie) Olig, Cathryn (Roger) Woelfel and Christine (Randy) LeFevre. Rosemary has 14 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, several step great-grandchildren and a few great-great grandchildren.

Rosemary was a devoted, supportive, kind, generous and loving mother and grandmother. She used her talents to create a loving home and innumerable handmade gifts. Her talents included sewing clothing, painting ceramics and glassware, creating counted cross stitch and plastic canvas items and Christmas ornaments as well as knitting everything from afghans and blankets to sweaters, hats and scarves to stuffed dolls and animals. 

Rosemary and Conrad raised their family in Johnsburg. They moved to New Holstein in 1968. Rosemary was employed at Wells in Fond du Lac and later at Tecumseh in New Holstein. A few years after her husband’s death in October 1991 Rosemary moved from New Holstein to Fond du Lac where she was very active in volunteer work at the Senior Center. Rosemary was a member of the Red Hatters and was crowned “Queen Bee”. She performed “Mrs. Santa” duties at the center as well as assisting in the running of the gift shop.

Among the highlights of Rosemary’s life were three trips to Ireland with members of her family. She also went on several cruises in the Caribbean, traveled to California and to Hawaii to visit Pearl Harbor, where her brother died on December 7, 1941. 

In addition to frequently expressing her pride in her children and their families, Rosemary was proud of being Irish and delighted others with her wry Irish sense of humor. She enjoyed surprising family and friends with comical gifts, often handmade, showing her love for them. 

Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother Keefe and sister Lucille (and spouse, Don Zuehlsdorf), her in-laws (Clem and Helen Olig), and one son-in-law, Randy LeFevre. 

Visitation will take place on Saturday, January 4, 2025, from 10:30 AM until 12 noon at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 705 Michigan Ave, North Fond du Lac, WI, 54937. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at the church at 12 noon. Entombment will take place on Monday at Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Ledgeview Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, per Rosemary’s wishes memorials may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com