Rose Wottowa

Rose Marie Wottowa, nee Karban, 98, of O’Fallon, IL, born June 7, 1927, in Millstadt, IL, died peacefully Monday, March 30, 2026, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon, IL.

Rose retired as the secretary / treasurer of Wottowa Painting Company, Inc. Rose was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish, Belleville, Il. She was a member of the Catholic Knights & Ladies of Illinois and also helped with book work. She was also a member of Our Lady of Snows Foundation, the Belleville Senior Citizens Club, the Illinois Pilot’s Association, and a past member of Belleville Sister Cities.

Rose loved to embroider quilt blocks and donate them to different churches. She enjoyed playing bingo and cards. Rose was an excellent cook and loved to bake special things for family and friends. Rose believed in helping everyone whenever she could and was everyone’s friend.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, Edward F. Wottowa, whom she married on October 15, 1946, and who died on August 14, 2022; a son, James E. Wottowa; a daughter, Janice Reinhardt; two grandchildren, Darrel and Dwight Tweedy; her parents, Joseph and Theresa, nee Helfrich, Karban; two brothers, Sylvester Karban and Alphonse Karban; and three sisters, Anna Ragsdale, Armille Karban, and Eleanor Karban.

Surviving are a daughter, Jean (fiancé, Jerome Oelrich) Sturgill of Shiloh, IL; six grandchildren, Sheila (Chad Bramblett) Nolan, Brian (Jill) Oeltjen, Jamie (Misty) Burnham, Nick Wottowa, Ryan (Diane) Tweedy, and Sarah Rose (fiancé, Steven Belaska) Sturgill; nine great-grandchildren, Logan (Kassie) Mueth and Mitchell (fiancée, Paytin Sullivan,) Nolan, Hunter and Zane Oeltjen, Vivian and Sam Elfrink, and Olivia, James, and Emerson Tweedy; a great-great-granddaughter, Sutton Rose Mueth; a daughter-in-law, Diane Wottowa of Belleville, IL; a son-in-law, Tom Reinhardt, Sr. of Belleville, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Cathedral or in the form of masses. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.

Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Rev. Kenneth York officiating.

Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.

Obit Provided By:
Renner Funeral Home