Rosemary C.

Workman

Rosemary Catherine Workman, 97, of O'Neill, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill.

Private memorial graveside services will be held at a later date in the Geneva Public Cemetery in Geneva.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill is in charge of the arrangements.

Rosemary was born on Aug. 27, 1927, to Ralph and Kathryn (Komarek) Bieghler in Peru, IN. Rosemary was young when the family moved to Geneva, where she attended grade school and graduated in 1945. In fall of 1945 she attended the University of Lincoln where she studied recreational leadership. In the summer of 46, after her freshman year, she met and began dating Joseph Workman and in the spring of 47 she graduated with her degree in recreational leadership.

Rosemary married Joseph W. Workman on Aug. 11, 1947, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Geneva. At that time, they moved to Lincoln so Joseph could attend the School of Commerce. Upon graduation, they moved to Peru, where Joe then attended Peru State Teachers College and the two also started their family.

Joseph and Rosemary raised six sons and one daughter while Joe served as principal at several Nebraska schools, including Steinauer, Tobias, Nehawka, Osmond, Table Rock, Doniphan and Lynch.  

Rosemary was a stay-home mother who attended to the needs of her children. In 1983, Joseph and Rosemary moved to O'Neill, where Joe served as County Superintendent and Rosemary worked as clerk. They both served in this capacity until the County Superintendent's office closed in 2003.

Rosemary loved having dinner and dancing on Saturdays at the Legion Club. She enjoyed golf, square dancing, reading, gardening, knitting, crocheting, cross stitch and many other types of crafts. She cross stitched Christmas stockings for each of her grandchildren and several blankets over the years. She volunteered with the American Legion, Meals on Wheels and served as the local chairman of Girls State. She volunteered many hours at the O'Neill Thrift Store.  

She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill, volunteering with both the Catholic Daughters of America and Alter Society (helping with funeral dinners.) 

From 2003-2011, Rosemary spent her winters in the warmth of Mission Texas. She participated in clogging, yoga, book club, Swedish weaving and the Red Hat Society.  

In her later years, Rosemary continued to crochet and began making baby blankets for the Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center in O'Neill. Rosemary's desire to keep her mind active included doing crossword puzzles and working on Sudoku logic puzzles, but even more, she loved to build puzzles or spend hours reading a good book.

Rosemary is survived by five of her children Mike (Judy) Workman of Kearney, Pat (Janet) Workman of Watertown, SD, Tom Workman of Kearney, Mark (Teresa) Workman of Highlands Ranch, CO, and Jim Workman of O'Neill; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Kathryn, her husband Joseph, one daughter Barb Gunzenhauser, one son Robert and one grandson Nikolaus Gunzenhauser.