Service Details
Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, for a visitation to meet with his family from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
A memorial Mass will take place at Gesu Parish in Milwaukee at a later date.
SOMERS – Richard P. Rosko, 72, passed away unexpectedly at his residence on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
He was born in Kenosha on June 28, 1951, the son of the late Sigmund and Genevieve (nee Smolik) Rosko. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1969. Rich married Cynthia Ann Miller at St. Casimir Catholic Church on April 21, 1979.
Rich retired after 28 years of service as a sign painter for AMC/Chrysler Corporation. He also operated Rosko Sign Service for many years, continuing in the tradition of his father. In his retirement from Chrysler, he worked part-time at Menard’s in Racine, and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience in the painting field, and any other way he could be of help. He also enjoyed the friendships he made with his coworkers. Athletics were always a big part of his life. He played hockey for UW Parkside as well as for the Kenosha Flyers and Chargers. He played softball for many different teams, and In the summer of 2023, along with his wife Cindy, he was inducted into the Kenosha Softball Hall of Fame.
In his retirement, he planted a vineyard on his property, planting over 1,700 grapevines, and enjoyed turning the grapes into wine. Two of his wines took first place at last year’s Kenosha County Fair. He was a very talented, “handy” and practical person, and loved any challenge to figure something out. He could be found helping his sons and friends lettering something, installing an organ, or with any number of different projects. He was happy to drop everything to do it, and enjoyed every minute. Willingly or unwillingly, and mostly through his eldest son, he was active in the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society, helping to restore historic theatre pipe organs, and enjoying their music.
He was instrumental in the creation of his younger son’s business, and along with his close friend Dan Gilmore, restored and converted a vintage camping trailer for waffle service. He was there every step of the way with the business, and you could often find him hanging out making friends and listening to the music at the farmers market. If you needed a coffee, he was your guy.
He had a very particular sort of zest for life in that he enjoyed the familiar, but was always happy to try new things. He enjoyed food and wine, traveling, certainly experiencing what our world and life has to offer. He also had a particular love for the Wisconsin State Fair.
In addition to his loving wife Cindy, Rich is survived by his sons, Dean (Benjamin Sibley) Rosko and Aaron Rosko; his brothers, Leon Rosko and Eugene Rosko; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marsha (Charles) Johnson and Mark Miller; as well as dear nieces, nephews and friends. He had many close friends, but in particular, we know he would like to acknowledge his longtime friends Rick Flocker and Dan Gilmore, with whom he shared a special bond. We will miss him dearly.
Rich was also preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Rosko and his sister-in-law, Kathy Rosko.
Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, for a visitation to meet with his family from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. A memorial Mass will take place at Gesu Parish in Milwaukee at a later date.
leon j rosko says
rich was my younger brother, and everything and more that was written is a tribute to him. i would’nt be here without him. after i got deathly sick in 2003, he and his wife cindy got me to the right people . he was always there to help me and anybody else. i know he will be missed . he was a good husband, father and brother and a decent human being. love you rich.
Anonymous says
Rich : a wonderful friend to me and to so many people including his family, & was especially loving in his role as father & husband. My prayers to God that Rich’s soul rests in peace & I ask for peace for all his family & friends
Ann Krulatz Rosmann says
Sending condolences to Rich’s family. May the lifetime memories ease the sorrow you feel.
Phil Bail says
My wife and I only know Richard through the comments his son Aaron has made to us about the help his father provided him with his waffle business and automobile renovations.
Those comments alone, it is obvious to us that Richard was a wonderful father. May God bless him and his family.
Tom & Ellen Bothe says
Cindy and Family,
We send our condolences for your loss. Rich was a great guy and we have many fond memories of his softball years. Wishing you all the peace and comfort possible.
Nancy (Krifka) Ledzki says
My deepest condolences to Rich’s family. I met Rich many years ago through Leon. Such a wonderful man. It’s been years since I’ve seen him. May your many memories help you through this sad time.
Diane Tenuta says
Dean and family, please accept my sympathies at the passing of your Dad. What a well-lived life he had. May he rest in peace.
Linda Frame, DTOS says
My heartfelt love, thoughts, and prayers go out to Dean Rosko and his family during this difficult loss of your Dad.
Anonymous says
In memory of Richard P. Rosko 1/22/24
Regretfully Eydie and I will not be able to make the service for my dear cousin Rich on Tuesday evening. The weather forecast for freezing rain over the next few days across the area in which we would have to travel I feel would make it unsafe for us to be on the road. The Rosko brothers, my cousins, we’re like older brothers to me growing up. I looked up to them all admiring their ability to catch fish and be good in sports. Rich was the first boss that I ever had. As a teenager I worked at the sign shop worked at the sign shop. He assigned me duties like preparing sheets of plywood and making patterns and eventually taught me how to go out and prepare walls to be painted. He always had patience with me as the years passed and I had grown older Rich and I had spent more time together mostly on the phone or through texts and emails. Because I did not live nearby our face-to-face time visits, we’re limited. When I would be in the area I would always try to stop by the house and see Rich and Cindy. One of my favorite recent memories was a few years ago when Rich showed me the work, he was doing on the concession trailer and his wine making set up. Then he took me up to Milwaukee for an Admiral game and to visit with Dean while he was playing the organ for the Admirals. We had some good talks about life, the challenges we faced and spiritual matters. Those conversations never lasted long enough nor were they shared often enough. Yet the time we spent was of good quality and helped us form a deep bond. I called Rich the end of last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas and left a message. Just to talk and get caught up on things. I know how that time of the year can be busy and I hadn’t heard back from him. I regret not calling right after the first of the year. We never know the days the Lord has numbered for us. We should never wait one more day to express our love and affection to another or to reach out to just tell someone we care about them and that we are there for them and thinking about them.
Eydie and I did not travel to Wisconsin this past winter, so I did not have an opportunity to see him lately. I will miss my dear cousin whom over the years I have grown closer to. Love and heartfelt sympathy to Cindy, Dean, and Aaron and to Leon and Eugene my 2 cousin brothers. Jeff Smolik
Terri and Jim Hanrahan. Katie and Ken Hagen says
Cindy and Family—it was with sadness to hear about the passing of Rich. It was nice to become friends with him with golfing on the Tuesday night league at Pets. We hope the memories give you some peace at this difficult time.
Our heartfelt condolences to all of you.
Terri and Jim Hanrahan
Katie and Ken Hagen
Jim Holochwost says
I was sorry to hear about the passing of Rich. Fond memory of playing baseball at Kennedy Park and Rich hitting a ball that seemed to us other kids as travelling about 500 feet! My best and condolences to Leon , Eugene and the rest of the Rosko family.
Nick Perrine says
So sorry for your loss Cindy and the Rosko family. My sympathy to all his family members especially Leon and Eugene. He will be truly missed by so many of his friends that played softball for Finney’s .
What a great person !
Charlotte (Smolik) Snarski says
My fond memories of Richie go back to our very early years when they lived on the corner of Washington Road and 30th Avenue. It was torn down when they widened the road back then, but for me, the memories can be easily recalled. Our cousin Richie, along with Leon and my sister Beth grew up together, we being within 2 years of age of each other. Our dad was his mom’s brother and would often take us there to visit. We had such fun always playing together and enjoying the variety of the pets they had. They had a rather big yard (or so it seemed) to us that we could play in and get rid of all the energy we had! My aunt and uncle were always gracious hosts: Aunt Gen always had something good she was cooking and Uncle Cy was animated, social and always played the squeeze box for us while we danced around! Many of Uncle’s traits are those I’d attribute to Richie. I recall how saddened and shocked we all were when Uncle passed on; quite young, the boys were devastated. I never forgot that; it made me cherish my own dad and the role model he was to us as well. I moved away after my college years but have always cherished the times I had with those boys. I was very happy too that my own brother could have fun and do all those “boy things” they like to do, considering he had 3 of us sisters to contend with! Our youngest sister, being 13 years younger than I, never had the chance to experience our cousins like we did, but I am gratified in knowing that as his neighbor in her later adult life, she experienced the joy and connection of “family” as we did. My love and prayers go to Leon, Eugene, Cindy and sons at this most difficult time. He certainly was a “one of a kind” type of guy to a great variety of people of all ages! Charlotte (Smolik) Snarski
Charles "Chuck" Klimek says
I met Rich approximately 10 years ago at a Wisconsin Grape Growers Assn conference. He was always a friendly, respectful guy. I always enjoyed our conversations. The 2024 conference was just held January 21-23, 2024 this past week. It was with sadness I attended after hearing of Rich’s passing from earthly life.
Prayers for comfort to Rich’s family, & friends
Kathy Parsons says
Please accept my sympathy for the loss of Richard. I knew him from roller skating at Rollaero Skating Rink. I watched both Dean and Aaron turn into fantastic skaters. I also enjoyed Dean’s organ playing both at the rink and at the Organ Piper.
I know that, despite your loss, that Rich is at peace.
Kathy Parsons
Saukville, WI
Denise Jones says
So sorry to hear about Rich. The first time I met him was at Rollero skating rink in Milwaukee. I was very happy to meet a man “taller than me and with his own skates”.
Rich was fun to skate with as were both Dean and Aaron. My prayers are with all of you.
P.S. I still have the poster Rich made for me at the going away skating party when I moved from Wi. to Va. in 2001!!!!
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Anonymous says
On behalf of the “ Tabili “ girls We are sorry to hear of Rich’s passing . Our sympathy goes out to the Rosko family .
Susan Tabili Downs