Rosemarie Leissner Gregory passed away on January 5 surrounded by her loving family and friends at the age of 93. After a short illness, she went to be with her Heavenly Father, her husband Kirk and all those loved ones who have gone before.

Rosie was born May 18, 1932, in New Braunfels, Texas to Alphonse John (Al) Leissner and Nelrose Nowotny Leissner. She is survived by her two daughters, Kathryn Gregory-Fiala (Paul Fiala) of Swisher, Iowa, and Terri Gregory Brotze of New Braunfels; by her six grandchildren, Kirsten and Becki Brotze, Jason (Mary), Austen (Amanda), Bryan (Maggie) and Nathan Fiala, and by 7 great-grandchildren, Madison, Vivian, Esme, Allison, Elijah, Bryson and Emily Fiala.

Rosie is preceded in death by her husband, Kirk Gregory, by her parents, Al and Nelrose Leissner of New Braunfels, and her Son-in-law Dr. Gary H. Brotze. DVM of New Braunfels, Texas. She is also preceded in death by her In-Laws David and Lloys Gregory of Boerne, Texas, her brother Layton Leissner and nephew John Gregory Leissner of Houston Texas.

Rosie's early life was spent in New Braunfels. She grew up loving Landa Park, her friends and her church in New Braunfels, Texas. She attended New Braunfels High School and graduated in the class of 1949 as a Senior Favorite and President of the Rangerettes. She was involved in many activities at NBHS: Rangerettes, Landa Park Aquacadets, Student Council, & She played the French Horn in the band. After graduation, she attended Texas State College for Women, now Texas Woman's University in Denton Texas and majored in Elementary Education.

On June 9, 1951, she met the love of her life, Robert Kirk Gregory, who was attending the University of Texas. They were introduced by college friends Frank Williams and Barbara Harwell in San Antonio. Blind date! Kirk and Rosie were engaged the following December and married August 30, 1952, in the same week following their summer graduations from college. The wedding was held at First Protestant Church with a joyous reception following at the Leissner home. Their honeymoon was spent en route to University of Illinois in Champagne-Urbana, where Kirk began his graduate studies in Structural Engineering. Rosie worked as an Elementary Teacher at a local school for the first year and then as an Office Assistant in the U of I Hospital Radiology Department. She loved to tell stories to her children about their early married life in Champagne.

Rosie was a Naval wife during the Korean War. After graduate school, Kirk went to Naval Office Candidate School. They were assigned to Long Beach Naval Shipyard in California in 1954.

Rosie and Kirk and their brand-new baby daughter Kathy, moved to California to begin their Navy adventure. Their 2nd daughter Terri was born in San Pedro, California in 1957.

Following Kirk's Naval Duty, the family moved back to Texas and lived in San Antonio for 10 years. Rosie and Kirk were charter members of the new Oak Hills Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. They started a Mariners Group for young couples that met monthly for meals and fellowship. Rosie was very active in the school PTA and as a Home Room Mother in their classrooms at Maverick Elementary.

In 1971, Kirk accepted a leadership role as Director of Engineering at Symons Manufacturing in Des Plaines, Illinois. The family moved to Barrington, IL.

In 1983, Rosie and Kirk moved back to New Braunfels. Rosie became a very active member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, launching her commitment as a historian and an author, traveling all over the state and meeting DRT members. Rosie co-authored many books and publications in her lifetime on the history of our community, including her most recent book, "New Braunfels' Historic Landa Park, Its Springs and Its People" which she co-authored with her lifelong friend, Arlene Krueger-Seales.

Rosie, a member of Friends for the Preservation of Historic Landa Park, was the columnist and coordinator for the Friend's bi-weekly column of historic stories for the Herald-Zeitung (2016-2022).

On May 19, 2022, the Comal County Commissioners recognized Rosemarie Leissner Gregory as recipient of the 2022 Frederick Frueholz, Jr. Historic Preservation Award based on her dedication to the historical preservation of Comal County. The Frueholz Award goes to those who helped record and preserve the county's rich history.  On accepting this award, Rosie, referring to their most recent book "New Braunfels' Historic Landa Park, Its Springs and Its People", attributed the book's success to the many friends who contributed to the book. During her acceptance speech, Rosie relayed with humor their original one-year project plan that took six years to complete due to the wealth of content contributed.

Rosemarie co-authored three additional local history books with her good friend, Myra Lee Goff. They are "Kindermaskenball, Past and Present" (1993), "New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas" (1993) for the Sophienburg Museum and Archives, and "A Journey in Faith—the History of First Protestant Church, New Braunfels, Texas 1844-1995" (1994) for First Protestant Church.

Rosie's personal history is full of accomplishment: On May 19, 2003, Rosemarie was commissioned the "Yellow Rose of Texas" by Governor Rick Perry, in recognition of her exceptional Community Service. She also received the Gold Medal for Texas History from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. In 2013, Rosemarie received the City of the Prince Service Award given by the New Braunfels' Parks Department. In 2018 a Red Oak Tree was planted on Gazebo Circle in Landa Park by the New Braunfels Garden Club in honor of their senior members, including Rosemarie Gregory and Arlene Seales for co-writing the book "New Braunfels' Historic Landa Park, Its Springs and Its People."

On September 30, 2021, Rosemarie and her co-author, Arlene Krueger Seales, were further honored with ornate blue butterfly benches by the Parks Foundation and the Friends for the Preservation of Historic Landa Park for their preservation efforts in writing the Landa Park Book. The blue benches are installed at the Landa Family Memories Butterfly Garden in Landa Park.

Rosie, as a Stewart member of the Heritage Society, began the Docent program for the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture in the historic Breustedt-Dillen Haus, a 1858 fachwerk house in Heritage Village. She also served as the chairman of the Docent committee and member of the Docent steering committee.

Rosemarie served on the Comal County Historical Commission for almost 15 years. During that time, she began and edited the "Looking Back" column in the Herald-Zeitung representing the CCHC and the Sophienburg Museum and Archives.

Rosemarie was an active member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). During that time she served on the Board of Management, as Historian General, on the Alamo Library Committee, and as President of the local DRT Lindheimer Chapter.

Rosie's greatest legacy was her family, her husband, daughters, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It all began with a marriage that was a true loving commitment that remained through their almost 70 years together.

Rosie was very proud of her two daughters. Kathy and Terri had a happy life with many learning opportunities in a home with a huge backyard where their friends and family, and many pets, were always welcomed. The Gregorys traveled often, with many trips to visit family and historical sites across the southwest.

Rosie greatly admired her grandchildren, and she took her role as a grandparent seriously. She and Kirk spent many happy hours with their grandkids and planned great adventures. Kirk and Rosie made many trips to piano recitals and volleyball games and loved being with the Brotze girls. They drove many miles to Iowa to visit the Fiala boys to enjoy sporting events and musical performances.

Rosie and Kirk were dedicated grandparents and each grandchild and great-grandchild has been positively impacted by their loving attention and guidance. We have all been so fortunate to be their descendants.

Rosie's Family thanks her dedicated Caregivers for all their love and support in helping to make her final years so beautiful. Maria Soto, Jessica Dominguez, Cheri Tips, Allison Garrison and her dear family friend Marcus Kalinowski added so much to Rosie's and Kirk's happiness. In addition, we would like to express our thanks to Hope Hospice and Christus Home Healthcare. We are most grateful.

Rosie's Family would like to thank you for sharing this journey with us. Our Mia will be truly missed.

The Family invites you to join them for a Celebration of Rosie's Life. Visitations will be held at Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home Sunday, Jan. 11th from 4pm to 5pm & Monday, Jan. 12th from 10am to 11am at First Protestant Church. Funeral Service will be held at First Protestant Church at 11am with fellowship immediately after. Family burial ceremony will be held at 2pm Monday at Hill Country Memorial Garden on Hwy 46W.

Memorials for Rosemarie may be gifted to First Protestant Church in New Braunfels, Friends for the Preservation of Historic Landa Park, the New Braunfels Conservation Society, the Heritage Society, Sophienburg Museum and Archives, or Hope Hospice.