Rosalee Romeo Klisares

Rosalee Romeo Klisares passed away peacefully at her home after a brief illness, on April 4, 2023, just six days shy of her 88th birthday.

Rosalee graduated from North High School and remained a proud Polar Bear. As a gifted athlete, she was captain of the heralded North Jump Ropers, who were honored for their astonishing talents with a trip to NYC for an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, appearing with Harry Belafonte, Teresa Brewer and Gwen Verdon.

More significantly, while one day walking her mother’s champion Collies near Drake stadium, she happened to meet a “Greek God” … Robert Klisares, whom she later married. They went on to have six children, three boys, followed by three girls. Theirs was a one-of-a-kind love affair, and they enjoyed 40 beautiful years together before Bob’s untimely death at the young age of 60.

Rosalee was a champion homemaker providing her family with a loving and beautiful home, fabulous dinners for eight at 6pm sharp, every night and always with dessert. Her first-born daughter Julie was born with a heart defect and on the autism spectrum. Julie required a lifetime of personal care and advocacy for the autistic community, which Rosalee delivered unfailingly, until Julie’s passing just a few short years ago. Along with her adept skills at motherhood, Rosalee lived her life with great poise and class.

Despite the hundreds of swimming lessons, baseball games, dance classes and stitches, Rosalee managed to maintain a healthy travel life. Rosalee enjoyed traveling to many Bowl games with her Big Eight Official husband. She loved traveling with her extended family of Italian cousins, including trips to England, France, Italy, and Greece.

Rosalee was blessed to come from a large loving family, and she created her own large family. We have been infinitely blessed to have been in her guidance and care. Her children will remember her as the best mom ever. She will be sorely missed.

Rosalee was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her parents, Earlene and Garibaldi “Willie” Romeo, brother Bobby, daughter Julie, and son Kevin.

She is survived by her sister Joanna Jones; children, Michael (Jennifer) and Jeffrey (Becky), Kathy and Jennifer O’Hara (Brad); seven grandchildren, Christina McGreevy (John), Jack, Noah, Emily, Maggie, Willie and Gracie; and two great-grandchildren, Margot and Clancy.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5711 SW 9th Street. Rosalee will be laid to rest at Glendale Cemetery with a time of food and fellowship to follow from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Trellis Café at The Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Klisares Family Scholarship Fund at Simpson College.

Condolences may be directed to www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print