Racine – Rose Marie (nee: Wenszell-Kothe) Legois, age 75, passed away peacefully at Lakeshore Manor on Sunday, August 25, 2013 following a brief battle with cancer.

Rose was born in Racine on August 18, 1938 to the late Alfred and Irene (nee: Langenfeld) Wenszell. She graduated from St. Catherine's High School in 1956.

Rose began her working career at Hamilton-Beach. Later, she became employed by McGraw-Edison Electric where she was elected Union President. Small in stature yet enormous in representation – when McGraw announced that they were leaving Racine, Rose organized a march on Main Street in protest of the company's plans. Eventually, Rose went to work for Cullen-Legois Mfg. where she met her future husband, Wayne R. Legois. On October 4, 1986 they were united in marriage. Rose and Wayne proudly had their marriage blessed by Rev. Jeffrey M. Thielen in St. Lucy Catholic Church on October 12, 2002.

Rose was a faithful member of St. Lucy Catholic Church. Among her interests, she enjoyed bowling, playing cards, antiques, perennial gardening, traveling – especially to Hawaii and gambling in Las Vegas, cheered on the Brewers & Packers, celebrated Christmas like nobody else, always kept an immaculate home, and was an extreme Elvis Presley & President John F. Kennedy fan. Above all, Rose's family was her life and she absolutely loved being in the surroundings of all of her loved ones.

Surviving are her children, Andy (Jennifer) Kothe, Dan (Terri) Kothe, Dawn (Jeff "Bonz" Andrews) Kothe, Richard (Denice) Legois and Tom (Angela Reise) Legois; grandchildren, Rachel (Anthony) Knierim, Eric (Melissa) Kothe and Kaci Kothe; brother, Terry (Carol) Wenszell; sisters-in-law, LaVern (Dale) Salisbury and Audrey McCarthy; former husband and good friend, Orville Kothe; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friend – too numerous to mention by name.

In addition to her parents, Rose was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Wayne, on September 11, 2012; precious granddaughter, Lynzay Legois, on  December 12, 2006; brothers, Al (Jean) Wenszell and Robert (Sherry) Wenszell; sister, Virginia (Harold) Johnson; sister-in-law, Lorrain (Earl) Poisson;   Wayne's parents, Richard and Marie (nee: Simmett) Legois; and by her adored canine companion, Ginger.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 11:00 am in St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Avenue, with Rev. Mark R. Jones officiating. In accordance with Rose's wishes, cremation will follow the services and entombment will take place at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  Visitation will be in the funeral home on Friday from 5-7 pm and in the church on Saturday from 10 -11 am. Memorials to the Lynzay Legois Memorial Scholarship Fund or to the American Cancer Society have been suggested.

A heartfelt note of thanks to the entire staff of All Saints 3B – especially nurses Pam & Heather; Dr. John Martini; Lakeshore Manor; and to everyone at Erickson Ambulance for their incredible care and support during Rose's time of need. May God bless all of you!