Rosalie Solheim

A resident of Athens, Georgia, since October 2017, Rosalie was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 9, 1930, to Emma Knorr and Oscar Dorsch. An only child of divorced parents, she spent part of her childhood enjoying swimming in Lake Michigan and experiencing the different cuisines of the various neighborhoods of Chicago. As a youth, Rosalie enjoyed playing tennis and basketball and doing archery.

During the summers growing up, Rosalie would often spend long periods of time with her Aunt Elsie Fiedler Schmeichal and Elsie’s husband--August--and their four boys--her cousins-- in South Dakota, where she ultimately met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Solheim. After graduating from high school in Illinois, Rosalie attended nursing school before marrying Bob on September 17, 1950, in Parker, South Dakota.

Because of her husband’s career as a civil engineer for the United States government, Rosalie lived in several places: Newell, South Dakota; Fairfield, Montana; Jacksonville, Florida, where daughter Karen was born in 1955; Omaha, Nebraska, from 1956 to 1971; and Atlanta, Georgia, from 1971 to 2017.

During her time as a homemaker, Rosalie enjoyed canning and putting up preserves, making pies, bowling, artificial flower arranging, being a Camp Fire Girl leader, Sunday school teacher, and homeroom mother. She also participated in community events such as the March of Dimes house-to-house collection drive. She enjoyed family events in Omaha, such as hiking in Fontenelle Forest, sledding, and watching travelogues at the Joceyln Arts Museum. Also important were the at least yearly family vacations, traveling to new destinations throughout the United States and Canada.

After her daughter left home in 1973 to go to college and her husband retired in 1981, Rosalie continued to travel widely, both in the United States and Europe with her husband Bob. The couple also discovered both ballroom dancing and square dancing and were members of the Silver Stars Square Dance Club in Atlanta. In addition, Rosalie enjoyed learning about financial investing, reading The Wall Street Journal and other financial publications into the wee hours of the night, and letting the financial ticker continuously run at the bottom of a silent television screen.

Raised Lutheran, Rosalie was a member of several churches such as the Bethel Lutheran Church in Omaha and the Living Grace Lutheran (formerly St. Matthew's Lutheran) Church in Atlanta.

Rosalie is preceded in death by her parents, her four cousins, and on April 16, 2017, by her husband Bob. A fall in Athens during a visit with her daughter, Karen, in autumn 2017 resulted in Rosalie’s becoming a resident of Athens, first in assisted living at Arbor Terrace for several months before moving to independent living at Terra Bella (fna Iris Place), and returning to Arbor Terrace in June 2024.

Rosalie became a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens on November 27, 2019, and enjoyed attending both Second Lookers and worship services with her daughter, engaging in community and conversation after worship especially relishing her cup of coffee (black with two packs of sugar and plenty of cream) and often making her way to the refreshment table by starting at the opposite end.

Having traveled together to England and to Sanibel Island during the time Rosalie lived in Atlanta, she and daughter Karen went on several trips together after Rosalie became an Athenian: Vermont; Blue Ridge, Amicola Falls, Gibbs Gardens, Georgia; and the Midwest, visiting Omaha and relatives in the Sioux Falls area.

During her time as an Athenian, Rosalie also enjoyed going to many places in the surrounding Athens area--such as Watson Mill State Park, the UGA Botanical Gardens (especially for the Winter WonderLights), and the RSSC (Rosalie Solhiem Supper Club), a monthly gathering of friends who dined together.

Rosalie is survived by daughter Karen Solheim, two nieces--Margaret Hegge and Ellen Aadland--and their families, and Rosie Schmeichal, wife of cousin Roy Schmeichal.

Niece Margaret shares the following:

Rosalie had an infectious laugh, a sparkly smile that reached her eyes, and a keen fashion sense. She used a daily ritual to look presentable, always meticulously groomed. She made friends easily and was diligent about staying in touch with family wherever they were. She loved to tell stories about her travels and the multiple accomplishments of her daughter of whom she was fiercely proud.

Niece Ellen adds:

I remember her telling about how much she enjoyed entertaining friends and colleagues; she

gave elegant dinner parties, and I still remember her key lime pie as the best I’ve ever tasted.

___________________________________________________________________________

A celebration-of-life service for Rosalie Solheim

will be held on Saturday, November 1, from 1 to 3 p.m.

at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens,

780 Timothy Road, Athens, GA 30606.

Friends and family who cannot attend this celebration-of-life service in person

are invited to attend virtually.

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/UUFA-Rosalie.

In lieu of flowers, you are invited to donate to the Athens Humane Society

in honor of Rosalie and Franklin (Rosalie’s granddog).