Rosemary Stevenson

Rosemary Stevenson of Nunica, Michigan, was received into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. She played for the Grand Rapids Chicks in the women’s professional league that was featured in the movie “A League of Their Own”. At a time when women had limited opportunities in professional sports, Rosemary never ceased to believe they could achieve their athletic goals. She was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1988 and the Michigan Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. She played and coached softball for 51 years all around the Grand Rapids, Zeeland, Muskegon, and Upper Michigan areas. She coached Little League and Pony League boy’s baseball for four years. Rosemary also was sports coordinator for the Caledonia-Kettle Lake area Youth, Every Woman’s Place/Webster House, and the Grand Rapids Girls Rocket softball. She encouraged girls and boys alike to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals! Rosemary loved her Lord, her life, and her family and friends. She reached out and touched many hearts and lives through her work and active involvements. She was a graduate of Pickford High School and Aquinas College. She retired from Michigan Bell Telephone Co. after 34 years and also had worked for the Greater Muskegon Catholic Schools for five years. She was a member of the Michigan Bell Pioneers, a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Coopersville and a past member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Caledonia. She was active in many Catholic organizations, was a Bible and CCD teacher. She also served on many church commissions, was a Stephens minister, Dominican associate, a Communicant, and Cursillist. She had also served on many township board committees. Rosemary was born July 2, 1936 in Stalwart, Michigan, to Samie and Anna (Marowski) Stevenson. She is survived by her sisters, Anita (Conrad) Izzard and Charlene (Robert) Williams all of Cedarville, Michigan; her brothers, John Andrew (Connie) Stevenson of Stalwart and Wayne (Sue) Stevenson of Midland, Michigan, and a brother-in-law, Daniel Izzard of Cedarville. She is also survived by her special friend and companion, Alice Goll; her foster son, Robert (Nancy) Kooiker and his sons, Andrew and Bradley; and several nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Sandra Izzard; brother, Edwin Stevenson; sister-in-law, Virginia Stevenson; and nephews, Mark Izzard and Duane Stevenson. Visitation will be held Friday, January 13, from 10:45 A.M. until 11:45 A.M. at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in Goetzville, Michigan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 Noon on Friday, January 13, 2017, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church. Interment will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Goetzville in the spring. Memorial contributions in memory of Rosemary may be given to Friends of the Orphans, or Grand Rapids Dominicans, or St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church.

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Rosemary Stevenson

July 2, 1936 - January 3, 2017