Rosalie Mary (Neufeldt) Bock

Fierce. Vibrant. Endlessly curious: Rosalie Mary Bock, born November 19, 1938, left the earthly world on July 1st, 2023 after a series of debilitating illnesses.  She leaves behind her devoted and loving husband Joseph George Bock. They were united in love and fidelity for 62 years. 

 

Rosalie, whose maiden name was Neufeldt,  leaves behind two daughters, Mary Angela Bock and Elizabeth Ann Bock, and four granddaughters, Rosemary Elizabeth Carlson, Emily Angela Carlson, Lauren Rosalie Holm and Natalie Ingrid Holm.  She is survived by her brother, Richard Neufeldt, of Morton Grove, Illinois. She had a half-brother, John Podolski, who died in 2005. 

 

Rosalie was a card-carrying, lifetime Cubs fan.  Always learning and  creating, she painted, sewed, crocheted, quilted, built miniatures, and enjoyed researching her family history. She and Joe loved trains and American history and traveled the U.S extensively. She created stamp exhibits based on Victorian history and won awards for her unique displays.

 

Rosalie leaves behind a life spent serving others. She was born on the north side of Chicago, attended Peabody elementary school, Wells high school, and  Mundelein College (now Loyola University) where she earned a bachelor’s in psychology in 1960. As a teenager she was a swim instructor and camp counselor for the Northwestern University Settlement House. Rosalie loved the natural world, its plants and animals, whether on a Wisconsin lake, the Colorado Rockies or the Red Rocks of Arizona.   

 

Her first career was as an elementary school teacher for the Catholic Diocese, the Chicago Public Schools, in Morton Grove and Rolling Meadows in Illinois, and Castle Rock, Colorado. She was an exceptional educator who worked hard to help every student meet their their highest potential. Rosalie loved her students and they loved her. 

    

Rosalie started a second career in the water industry in the 1980s, first with the American Water Works Association, where she wrote several books for students about water conservation.  She continued to spread the word that “water is life,” at the Alameda County water district in California. She and Joe moved to Sedona, Arizona in 1996, where Rosalie worked part time as a computer consultant and helped Joe to build his appraisal business. Rosalie tended their home and garden there with tireless care, often arguing with professional landscapers about watering technique. 

 

She moved into assisted living in 2020 with her feline roommate, Bella. Even as age took away her creative abilities she continued to care for her others, forever a friend to all.  The family is planning a celebration of her life later this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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