Rosemary B. Holtel, age 100 of Batesville, died Saturday, December 9, 2017 at St. Andrew’s Health Campus. Born April 7, 1917 in Batesville, she is the daughter of Maria (Nee: Ollier) and Clarence Kerker Sr. She married Ambrose Holtel June 28, 1941 at St. Louis Church and he preceded her in death September 7, 1985. She worked 10 years as a linotype operator for the Batesville Herald Tribune and was a member of St. Louis Church and the Batesville V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary.
According to the family, Rosemary was an excellent cook and an even better baker. Her fried chicken was pretty hard to beat, as were her coffee cakes and pies. She was the official pie baker for family functions and her favorite saying was “everyone needs lots of love and lots of coconut cream pie.” If she wasn’t in the kitchen, you’d find her outdoors. Rosemary enjoyed tending to her flowers, especially her roses and working around the yard. The truth is she just delighted in growing things. Her family gave the example that although she disliked tomatoes, she still raised them. Family was also important to her. She and her siblings would meet monthly for lunch and she dearly loved spending time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughters Mary Jo Youngman of Antioch, Tennessee, Debbie Lamping of Batesville; son Jack Holtel of Brookville, Ohio; sisters Barbara Heidlage of Batesville, Betty Waters of Cheviot, Ohio; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she is also preceded in death by sister Rita Goldsmith and brothers Jerome, Robert and Clarence Kerker Jr.
Visitation is Friday, December 15th, from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home. Funeral services follow at 11:30 a.m. at St. Louis Church with Rev. Stan Pondo officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to the Oldenburg Academy or Margaret Mary Health Foundation Hospice.