Rose M Phetteplace

Rose Marie Phetteplace, 60, of McFarland, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on December 30, 2023.

She was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1963 to Gordon and Edith Phetteplace. She attended West Salem High School before completing her Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. Following in her father’s footsteps, Rose dedicated almost three decades to serving the people of Wisconsin as a leader at the Department of Transportation. As the first female director in her district, she was a proud trailblazer in her male-dominant field. Rose was regarded as a respectful, patient, and good-humored mentor by those who had the pleasure of knowing her. She was truly loved by many and considered her colleagues family.

Outside of her profession, some of her favorite hobbies included gardening, painting, spending time with her family, and cheering on the beloved Packers. Rose was famous for tending to her multiple gardens consisting of everything from cucumbers to green beans to tomatoes…lots and lots of tomatoes. She was a lifelong and passionate fan of the Green Bay Packers. This was made clear by the hours she spent painting and decorating the “Lambeau room” in her home. This room features her hand painted mural of Lambeau field, accompanied by her large collection of Packer memorabilia.

Above all, Rose was dedicated to loving, protecting and caring for her family. Anyone who knew her was well aware of Rose's generosity and selflessness. Whether it was zamboniing to help pay for skating expenses or simply mowing a neighbor’s lawn, Rose was constantly and happily supporting those around her.

Rose was preceded in death by her wife Linda, her father, Gordon, our furry friend, Jazzy, and is survived by her daughter and bonus children, Rosalyn, James and Kristin, her grandchildren Hailey, Ethan, and Parker, her mother, Edith and by her siblings, Gordon, Kim, and Thad.

A memorial service will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 5801 Hwy 51, McFarland, WI 53558 on Sunday January 7, 2024, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm with a celebration of life to follow at 3:00pm. We encourage friends and family to use this time to share stories and other fond memories of Rose.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

5801 Highway 51, P.O. Box 105, McFarland

(608) 838-0655