Herbert Theodore Rosby

Herbert Theodore Rosby, age 88, of Waupaca, Wisconsin, formerly of Wild Rose and Wautoma, Wisconsin, and La Grange, Illinois, passed away Tuesday morning, September 23, 2025, at Bethany Home in Waupaca.

He was born October 21, 1936 in Wautoma, Wisconsin, the son of Gustav and Carol (Arveson) Rosby. He married Johanna Elizabeth Clark on June 23, 1962 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Merrill.

Herbert grew up on the Rosby family farm just north of Wautoma where he lived with his parents, his Uncle Cliff and Aunt Adelyn (Arveson) Rosby, and cousin Judy. Herbert graduated from Wautoma High School in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army from April 1956 to February 1958, spending time in Germany during his service as a medic. Herbert attended Wisconsin State College Stevens Point (now University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point) where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1961. During the next year he worked for Portage County (WI) Social Services as a child welfare worker finding safe placements for foster children. After he and Johanna were married in 1962, they moved to Illinois where Herbert attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to complete his Master’s Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations.

Herbert enjoyed genealogy and learning about his family history, traveling to Norway five times. Herbert also loved gardening, snowplowing for neighbors, donating blood, and attending Green Bay Packer games (including their trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans in 1997). He was an avid golfer throughout his life, and caddied at Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, Illinois during his retirement before moving back to Wisconsin. He and his wife Johanna played in a couple’s golf league after their move to Wautoma in 1999. He was a member of Mount Morris Holden Lutheran Church and formerly belonged to Grace Lutheran Church in La Grange, Illinois.

Survivors include two daughters, Lisa (Todd) Aldrich, Lakeville, MN and Heidi Rosby, Green Bay; four grandchildren, Ryan, Emily, Joshua, and Megan Aldrich; one brother-in-law, Kenn Spatz, Racine; one sister-in-law, Faye Clark, Merrill. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his loving wife of 56 years, Johanna (Clark) Rosby.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at Mount Morris Holden Lutheran Church, N3388 State Road 152, Wautoma with Pastor Amy Penza officiating. Inurnment with military honors will be in the church cemetery following the memorial service. A luncheon will be served at the church immediately after inurnment.

Visitation will be held on Saturday at the church from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service.

The family would like to give special thanks to Pastor Amy Penza, whose kindness and compassion meant so much to Herbert. He always looked forward to her visits, which lifted his spirits, brought a smile to his face, and brightened his life.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in Herbert’s memory.