Rosemary Ann Sosalla

Rosemary Ann Sosalla, age 87, of Whitehall, died peacefully after a week of comfort care with
her family at her side on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in the Gundersen Tri-County Hospital in
Whitehall.
Rosemary was born on May 25, 1935 in the town of Lincoln, Trempealeau County, WI to
William and Julia (Kwosek) Kulig. She married the love of her life Benedict Sosalla on June 9,
1956 at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Independence, and they celebrated sixty years of
marriage together until Ben passed away on February 7, 2017.
Rosemary graduated from Independence High School in 1953 and lived her life primarily in
Independence and Whitehall. She enjoyed a few years in Milwaukee where she was employed
with Allen-Bradley Company prior to her engagement. Rosemary and Ben decided to take over
his parent’s farm, purchase the farm, and raise their family together in Whitehall. After their
children were all in school, they retired from farming in 1979, and Rosemary worked as a
waitress at Rainbow Restaurant in Blair and City Cafe in Whitehall. 
In 1989 at the age of 54, Rosemary decided to pursue her interest in nursing by becoming
certified as a nursing assistant and home health aide at Western Wisconsin Technical College.
She offered exemplary care to her residents for the 11 years she was employed at Grand View
Care Center in Blair until she retired at the age of 65 in 2000.
Rosemary was one of the early members of St. John’s Catholic Church in Whitehall and was
very active with the women’s organizations, especially the PCCW and the funeral committee.
She frequently volunteered with activities at the Gundersen Tri-County Care Center before,
during, and after her husband Ben was a resident.
Rosemary was very proud of her and Ben’s Silesian/Polish ancestry and often spoke Polish that
she learned from her maternal grandmother Mary. She enjoyed listening to polka music and
practicing on her keyboard as she learned how to play by ear. Ben and Rosemary especially
loved traveling the United States together, and playing cards and bingo, her favorite hobbies
which she was often skilled and lucky with. She was known for her wisdom and strength, and
her faith and family were the core of her life. Rosemary was very sociable and was an excellent
cook who hosted many family events and created many memories treasured by her family.
Rosemary is survived by her five children: Barry (Deanna) of Eau Claire, Brian (Lois) of
Pardeeville, Debi of Beaver Dam, Randy (Jorge) of Whitehall, and Joseph of Milwaukee; five
grandchildren: Brad Toft, Theresa (Greg) Hoffer, Ashleigh (Collin) Krawll, Ben Sosalla, and
Tara Sosalla; two great-grandchildren: Liam Krawll and Nyah Krawll; a brother Roland (Doris)
Kulig of Blair; two sisters: Renita (Art) Bohn and Ruth (Gordy Nepstad) Marsolek of
Independence; a half-sister Adeline Puccini of Virginia; and a sister-in-law Roberta Kwosek of
Waukesha.

In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandparents Jacob
and Mary (Skroch) Kulig and August and Mary (Pierzina) Kwosek; her brothers Robert and
Richard Kulig; her half-brothers and half-sisters: Verna (Aloysie) Halama, Bennie (Ruth) Kulig,
Adolph Kulig, Eleanore (Art) Drangstveit, Clifford Kulig, Clarence (Theresa) Kulig, Anton
(Doris) Kulig, Edward (Arlene) Kulig, William Kulig, Jr., and Roman (Frances) Kwosek; and
her brother-in-laws Joseph Puccini and Martin Marsolek.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in Saint John’s
Catholic Church with burial in the Lincoln Cemetery both in Whitehall. Father George
Thayilkuzhihottu will officiate. 
Visitation will be Sunday, March 5, 2023 from 4-7 p.m. at the Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall
where a Christian prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. followed by a parish rosary. Friends
may also call one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.