Martha Rosemary Ashbaker (nee Dittmer), age 100, of O’Fallon, Ill. passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at The Colonnade Senior Living in O’Fallon, Ill. She was born December 25, 1923, in Mendon, Ill. to John Herman and Mary S. Tenvorde Dittmer. Rosemary married Charles J. “Chuck” Ashbaker April 30, 1949, at St. Joseph Church in Quincy, Ill. He preceded her in death November 7, 1973.
Rosemary graduated from Mendon High School and Gem City Business College. She first worked as a teller and a bookkeeper at Illinois National Bank in Quincy. She loved working; throughout her career, Rosemary was employed in secretarial/bookkeeping positions at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bemis Livestock and Truck Service, and Tracy Enterprises in Mt. Sterling, Ill. After Rosemary and her family relocated with her husband’s career moves, she was employed at Automotive Wholesale, Co. in Macomb, Ill. and Lincoln Land Foods in St. Joseph, Ill. After her husband’s death, she worked at Food Marketing Enterprises in Homewood, Ill. and Lincoln Land Foods Sales in Northbrook, Ill. Upon retirement, Rosemary moved to O’Fallon, Ill. to be near her three children and seven grandchildren. Preferring to keep busy, Rosemary worked part-time at Frank J. Vollmer Realty, Inc. in Belleville, Ill. She always centered her life around work, family, and church.
Rosemary was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church serving as a Eucharistic Minister, a founding member of the Yesterday’s Kids organization and the funeral choir where she made many close friends. She enjoyed hobbies such as playing cards or bingo, cooking food for potlucks or funeral luncheons, and going on outings and tours. She loved her family and her St. Nicholas friends and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Rosemary is survived by two of her three children, Dan (Tara) Ashbaker and Cathi Teel of O’Fallon, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Carey (Paul) Lohman of Maryland Heights, Mo., Amy (Terry) Trezek of O’Fallon, Mo., Ryan (Angie) Teel of Branson, Mo., Christina (Eric) Detmer of Breese, Ill., Ashlie (Jessica) Zwilling of Olney, Ill., Nicholas (Sarah) Ashbaker of Dardenne Prairie, Mo., and Emily (Caleb) Boyd of St. Peters, Mo.; son-in-law, David Lawhead of Breese, Ill. and eighteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J. Herman and Mary Dittmer; husband, Charles J. Ashbaker; brothers, Herman Dittmer, Jr., Harvey Dittmer, Robert Dittmer, and Donald Dittmer; sisters, Dorethy Shilt and Dolores Dempsey; and daughter, Colleen Lawhead.
Special appreciation goes out to all the staff at The Colonnade Living Center and to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Southern Illinois, St. Nicholas Church, or to St. Clare Catholic School. Guest book and photo tribute are available at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
The family will receive friends from 9–11 a.m., Thursday, November 14, 2024 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 625 St. Nicholas Dr., O’Fallon. Yesterday’s Kids will conduct a walk-through at 10:15 a.m., Thursday, at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at the church. Committal service will be at 12 p.m., Friday, November 15, 2024 at Mount Sterling Catholic Cemetery, Mount Sterling, Ill.
