Rosemary Haerle Hertel, 83, passed away on July 8, 2012, after a long illness. At the time of her death, she was a resident of Sunrise Assisted Living in Sterling, VA. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Robert Hertel, of Leesburg, three children: a son, Richard Hertel of Easton, PA, and two daughters; Marguerite Munroe of Cross Junction, VA and Nancy Nowakowski of San Diego, CA, six nieces and nephews, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Born Rosemary Haerle on March 11, 1929, she grew up in the small farming community of Minneapolis, KS. At an early age, her singing talent enabled her to perform at local patriotic events and she was a soloist with her church choir. In 1951, she graduated from Marymount College in Salina, KS with a degree in music. The following year she married her college sweetheart, Robert Hertel of Salina,KS, who was then a newly-commissioned 2nd Lt in the US Army. Over the next 30 years they made their home in a number of Army posts in the United States and Germany, moving more than twenty times before Robert's retirement from the Army.

Following each new move, Rosemary managed to establish a comfortable home for her family. Whenever possible, however, she continued to pursue her interest in music. While her husband was stationed in the Washington area in the early 1960s, Rosemary joined the American Light Opera Company, an amateur group that performed popular musicals. At several Army posts in the US and Germany, she formed a singing group of military wives she called " The Polka Dots". The first of these groups, at Fort Benning, GA, was invited to perform on a national television show that featured amateur talent.

Following his retirement from the Army in 1982, Rosemary and her husband lived in Danville, CA, for eleven years where she enjoyed an interest in painting, and also studied choral conducting at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In 1994, they moved to Leesburg to be nearer their children and grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road, on Friday 13th between the hours of 6 to 8 PM. A funeral Mass will be held the following morning at 10:30 AM at St John The Apostle Catholic Church in Leesburg. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to a nonprofit hospice agency, Capital Caring, 209 Gibson St. NW, Suite 202, Leesburg, VA 20176, 703-777-7866. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be determined.