Rosemary Witte, 86, of Burlington, died Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at Bickford of Burlington.
Born December 5, 1939, in Burlington, IA, she was the daughter of Ralph and Mary Bushby Senn. On June 12, 1965, she married William John Witte in Burlington, Iowa. He preceded her in death on May 9, 2015.
She was a 1957 graduate of Burlington Community High School.
Rosemary had a vibrant spirit and an unmistakable zest for living. She had a gentle kindness and a wonderful sense of humor. Rosemary was endlessly energetic and loved to stay on the go. Her curiosity led her across the world, where she took in breathtaking sights and collected unforgettable memories. Yet no matter how far she traveled, she was always happiest returning home, drawn back to family and friends. At home, Rosemary found joy in simple pleasures. She loved seeing her grandchildren, Sydney and Blake. Rosemary attended many sports games they participated in and was especially happy when they and the rest of the family joined her in her travels. She had many talents, including knitting, sewing, gardening and painting. Her most favored pastime was needlework where she attended many seminars and spent many hours creating beautiful pieces. She loved baking, especially cookies. She delighted in bargain shopping and exploring estate sales. She had a deep appreciation for Bavarian folk art paintings and found joy in attending Civic Music and Players Workshop performances as well as participating in Silver Sneakers exercise class. She was a member the Mississippi Valley Embroiders Guild of America and Divine Mercy Parish, where she generously volunteered her time and shared her many talents.
Survivors include her two daughters, Regina Witte, and Angela Witte; one son, John William (Tamara) Witte; granddaughter, Sydney (Ryan) Prouty; grandson, Blake (Julia) Kunz; great-grandchild, Courtland Kunz two sisters, Sandra Senn and Patricia Zuniga; and brother, Richard Senn.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Ralph.
Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM Friday, January 2, 2026 at the downtown Prugh Funeral Service, 317 N. 4th Street.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection for Mrs. Witte will be 11:00 AM Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Divine Mercy Parish-St. Paul's Catholic Church with Fr. Jake Greiner as the Celebrant. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. A time of food and fellowship will be held at Martini's Grille following the burial.
Memorials have been established for Divine Mercy Parish and the Des Moines County Humane Society.
Please continue to keep Rosemary's family in your thoughts during this difficult time.