Rosemary Helmer

Rosemary Helmer (Bastian), age 89 years, of Fond du Lac was called home to be with the Lord on December 23, 2025 at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital surrounded by family.

Rosemary was born on November 12, 1936, in Fond du Lac to Oscar and Grace (Fadner) Bastian. She was united in marriage to Merritt Helmer on April 29, 1957, in Spokane, WA.

She was a proud and active charter member of Memorial Baptist Church in Fond du Lac where she served as the secretary and music ministry director for many years. She was an active member of the American Baptist Women's Association of Wisconsin, Church Women United of Fond du Lac and the FDL Women’s Chorus for many years. She also kept the books for Merritt’s business Helmer Electric for many years. She enjoyed spending time with her loving family, especially her grandchildren and recently her great grandchildren. Rosemary was a very talented seamstress. She made many of her own and her children’s clothing as well as other contracted clothing for individuals and businesses, including two of her daughter's wedding dresses. She enjoyed watching birds outside her living room window and completing and displaying jigsaw puzzles as pictures on the walls of her home. She was an avid reader with an extensive library of books. Her daily routine in her most recent years started with her daily devotions, reading her favorite authors books and watching her favorite retro T.V. programs. Her faith was a major cornerstone of her long blessed life.

Those Rosemary leaves behind, who will cherish her memory include 3 sisters Alice Ossoff of Peabody MA, JoAnn (Larry) Towne and Darcy Rahjes, 3 daughters: Sue (Mark) Sonnentag, Beth (Mark) Ewerdt and Jean (Rodger) Schneider and 1 daughter-in-law Alene Helmer all of Fond du Lac, 13 grandchildren: Joshua ( Melodie) Helmer, Jessica Helmer and Jacob Helmer (Stephanie Cochrane), Justin Sonnentag (Courtney VanTubbergen) and Shawn (Tara) Sonnentag, Jeremiah Mohr (Leslie Hrdiman) and Alexandra Mohr (Scott Mayer), Krystal Schneider, Brian, Benjamin (Casie) and Aaron (Amy) Ewerdt and Jordan and Haylee Leazer, 17 great grandchildren and many other family and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Merritt in 2009, her son Jim, brother-in-laws Joe Ossoff, John Rahjes, Carl Schmidt, Robert Tuck and sister-in-laws Mary Schmidt, Phyllis Helmer, Nancy Tuck and her in-laws Wayland and Bertha Helmer.

VISITATION: Rosemary’s family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Twohig Funeral Home (305 Fond du Lac Ave, Fond du Lac, WI 54935)

SERVICE: A Memorial Service in remembrance of Rosemary will take place at 12 pm on Saturday at Twohig Funeral Home – (305 Fond du Lac Ave, Fond du Lac, WI 54935) with Rev. Betsy Perkins officiating. A private family inurnment will be at Union Cemetery, Campbellsport at a later date.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at SSM Hospice for their care and compassion.

Twohig Funeral Home is serving the family. Guestbook and condolences can be found at www.twohigfunerals.com.