Rosemary Habicht

Rosemary Habicht, age 89, of Willmar, died Wednesday afternoon, April 20, at Brookdale Assisted Living in Willmar.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, at the First Presbyterian Church in Willmar. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 29, at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday, April 30. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Rice Hospice are preferred.

Rosemary Habicht was born on August 17, 1926, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Soltis) Jancik. She grew up in Sartell, graduated from St. Cloud Tech High School in 1944 and graduated from St. Cloud Teachers College in 1946. She was employed as an elementary teacher in the New London Schools. On June 26, 1949, Rosemary was united in marriage to Eugene "Gene" Max Habicht in Sartell and they made their home in Willmar. Rosemary stayed home and worked as a homemaker, raising their four children. She later joined the family business, Habicht's Department Store in downtown Willmar where she was significantly involved. Rosemary was a proud and faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was involved with Bridge Club, Study Club, P.E.O. and other community organizations. She was very proud of all her children's accomplishments and enjoyed caring for her family and her customers.

She is survived by her four children: David (and Diann) Habicht of Rapid City, South Dakota, Jane Ann (and Michael) Mandi of Hayward, Wisconsin, William (and Jayne) Habicht of Eden Prairie, and Thomas "Mac" (and Ronda) Habicht of Willmar; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Dennis Jancik of Buffalo; and a sister, Leona "Toots" Ekker of Sartell, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Gene in 2007; a great-grandson: Ian Michael Spindler; a sister: Helen Malisheseke; and three brothers, Alvin in World War II, Tom and George.

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