Rosemary "Rosie" Regehr

Rosemary “Rosie” Regehr, age 96, peacefully passed away on June 5, 2025, at The Gardens (assisted living facility) in Wausau, WI. Rosemary was born on December 13, 1928, in Chicago, IL to Henry W. and Helen R. (Gwiazdon) Cieslek. In the early 1940’s, her family moved to Wisconsin, where she met and married Henry E. Budzinski on September 1, 1945, at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp. Rosemary and Henry were divorced in 1967.

Rosemary was blessed with a long, adventurous, and very fulfilling lifetime…from softball player to surgical technician, restauranteur, proud mother of three, and card player extraordinaire. As a young adult, she played softball with her sister, Sylvia, along with bowling and playing cards with her girlfriends. Cooking was her passion, preparing many fabulous meals, and whose recipes always included lots of butter! She always had time for her grandchildren, as well as knitting many newborn baby caps for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. And, late in the afternoon, she loved relaxing in her hot tub with a few glasses of dry sherry!

Her occupational endeavors began in 1953 as a nurse’s aide at Victory Memorial Hospital in Stanley, where she was taught by the medical staff to become a surgical technician. Rosemary subsequently worked as a surgical technician at Sacred Heart and Luther Hospitals in Eau Claire. In 1963, she became an Assistant Operating Supervisor at Memorial Hospital in Medford. After meeting Edward H. Regehr, MD, she worked as an Office Nurse at his medical clinic. Rosemary and Edward had a mutual interest in food and restaurants, entering into a business co-partnership for a supper club in Eagle River, and then in Rhinelander. On February 20, 1983, she married Doctor Regehr. A few years later, they dissolved the restaurants and operated a KOA campground in Kewaunee. In 1988, they moved to Omro, where Edward renewed his family practice clinic. They retired in 2000 to the Lake Holcombe area. In 2007, they purchased a home in Chippewa Falls, to further enjoy their laid-back lifestyle, along with their children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Edward passed away on May 19, 2017, at which time Rosemary sold their Chippewa Falls home and moved to Wausau, renting an apartment at Forest Park Village. She lived independently for 5 ½ years, and then for 2 ½ years at The Gardens (assisted living facility).

Rosie will be dearly missed by her daughter, Barbara Stroming-Patefield (David) of Wausau, sons Stephen Budzinski (Maggie) of Medford, and Henry Budzinski (Linda) of Eau Claire, along with grandchildren Damian (Jennifer) Budzinski, Chris (Kristin) Budzinski, Melissa (Lee) Ullom, Tina Stroming (Eric), Travis (Melanie) Stroming and Matt Budzinski; great grandchildren Alec (Allison), Ella (Páll), Noah, Thea, Ellis, Shepard, Jacob, Aliyah, Noah, RJ and Gracie; and two great-great grandchildren Isabel and Brynja. Rosie was preceded in death by her late husband, Edward, her parents, her son-in-law (Roger Stroming), and her two sisters, Marian Bielecki and Sylvia Cieslek.

Life brings tears, smiles and memories…the tears dry, the smiles fade, but the memories last forever.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Gardens and Interim Healthcare hospice nurses, therapist and other staff for their wonderful care of Rosemary. Your compassion and care of our mother was greatly appreciated.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 600 Stevens Dr., Wausau, WI. Visitation will begin at 10am, with 11am service to follow. Pastor Eric Hauan will officiate. Interment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to Forest Park Village for Elevator B West Tower fundraiser.