Rosina T. Wikle

ROSINA T. (BERTSCH) WIKLE, 75, of Eaton, Ohio, died Friday, April 8, 2011 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Born on March 11, 1936 in Dormettingen, Germany she was the daughter of the late Paul & Katharina (Geissler) Bertsch. Rosina emigrated from Germany to the United States of America in 1955 with her brother Paul. The two siblings arrived in New York City after a two-week transatlantic journey aboard a passenger ship. After being processed at an immigration center they took a train to Richmond, Indiana, where their uncle, Frank Bertsch, an older brother of their father, and his wife, Agnes, and their five children received them. Frank Bertsch sponsored Paul and Rosina, who became part of a wave of immigration from Germany after the war. Rosina, known as Rosi to her friends and family, soon took a job in Eaton with Charles & Ellene Moysey taking care of the children. The family helped Rosi learn English and American customs and culture. She met her future husband, Lt. Col. J. J. Wikle, in Eaton. They married at Visitation Catholic Church in Eaton in 1958. Rosi became a US citizen in 1961. She had been trained as a seamstress before leaving Germany and for many years worked at the Clifton Shirt Factory in Eaton, Ohio and at their factory in Loveland, Ohio. Rosi was a member of the American Legion, Women's Auxiliary in Eaton. Rosi was also a member of the Visitation Catholic Church in Eaton, Ohio for 57 years. Rosi was an Active Member of the Eaton sister city of Röedental, Germany.

Preceded in death by her brothers, Paul Bertsch, who had settled in Richmond, and Josef Bertsch, her eldest brother, who lived near the family home in Dormettingen, Germany.

Survived by her husband of 53 years, Lt. Col. J. J. Wikle of Eaton, Ohio; children & spouses, Hans & Peggy Wikle of Fairview, West Virginia, Gretel & Ashley Johnston of Munich, Germany, Earle & Suzie Wikle of West Carrollton, Ohio , and Leonard Wikle of Eaton, Ohio; siblings, Edgar Bertsch, Klemens Bertsch, Maria Seifriz, and Marga Gomering all of Germany; grandchildren, Chel (Pete), James, Sarah, Ryan, and Molly; great grandchildren, Addison and Landon; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, April 15, 2011 at Visitation Catholic Church, 407 East Main Street, Eaton, Ohio with Rev. J. Thomas Fitzsimmons officiating. Interment will be held at Mound Hill Cemetery in Eaton, Ohio. Family will receive friends from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at Barnes Funeral Home, 220 East Main Street, Eaton, Ohio.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Visitation Catholic Church. Online condolences to the family via the Web site at www.barnesfuneralhome.com