February 27, 1937 – June 5, 2025

Rosemarie Troka was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a cherished friend to many. Known for her warm smile and love of conversation, she passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025, at Grand River Health Care Center. She was comforted by the blessing of having seen and spoken with her family just the day before.
Born February 27, 1937, in Appenweier, Germany, Rosemarie and her twin sister Renate were the youngest of seven children of Fridolin and Adelheid Leberer. Her early years were shaped by the hardships of World War II. In 1956, she bravely moved to Pennsylvania to join her sister—despite not speaking English. Just two years later, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Mather AFB in Sacramento, California. There, she met fellow airman John Troka. After a whirlwind six-month courtship, they married shortly before both were honorably discharged in August 1959.
The couple moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where John attended college and they began raising their family. Their journey took them and their four children through Washington, California, British Columbia, Missouri, and finally Colorado, with a memorable posting in Toronto, Canada along the way.
Rosemarie was passionate about the outdoors. A dedicated hiker, she was the first woman to log over 5,000 miles with a Glenwood Springs adventure group, the 100 Club. She loved hiking with her dog, backpacking, cycling, and mountaineering—conquering 42 of Colorado’s 54 fourteeners. In winter, she enjoyed skiing and snowshoeing. Nature was her sanctuary.
An accomplished seamstress and needleworker, Rosemarie often made clothing for her children and handcrafted gifts for loved ones. She had a creative spirit, frequently transforming everyday items into something unique.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John; her sister Gisella Kininger in Germany; daughters Monica Troka in Colorado and Diane (Gerald) Yearous in Oregon; son John Jr. (Shannon) Troka in Colorado; son-in-law Chris Klein in Colorado; grandchildren Mazen (Kelli) Dauleh, Meagan Klein in Copenhagen, Evan (Jordan) Troka, Landon Troka, Miranda Yearous; and great-grandchildren Brinlie and Briar Dauleh, and Keegan Troka. She was preceded in death by her daughter Dr. Susan Klein, DVM; and siblings Martha Metzner, Erica Kline, Renate Brauner, Karl Leberer, and Louise Grasberger.
A memorial service and celebration will be held at the Lakota Links Clubhouse in New Castle on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 11:30 AM. You may honor her memory by donating to her favorite charity, Tunnels to Towers Foundation (t2t.org), which supports veterans.
“God Has Taken Another Angel Home”