Cedarville – Rosalee Rockman, 57, artist and 35-year Freeport educator, died Tuesday, December 14, 1993 at her home in Cedarville. Born December 9, 1936, in Clintonville, Wisconsin, she was a daughter of Lee S. and Rosella M. (Wotruba) Rockman. Educated in Clintonville schools, she graduated from Clintonville High School in 1954. Earning bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and secondary education and supervision from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, she was a member of Sigma Kappa social sorority, was vice-president of the UW Panhellenic Association, and in 1955 was named Outstanding Freshman Woman on campus. She participated in the graduate masters of fine arts program at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and completed her graduate studies at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu; University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; Rockford College, Rockford; and Northern Illinois University. She was teaching in Freeport School District 145 since 1958; Junior High School 1958 to 1961; Elementary Art Supervisor and High School, each half-time, 1961-1967; and head of the High School Art Department, 1967 to present. She started the Freeport High School Art Club in 1962 and sponsored the annual art exhibit. In 1981, she was awarded the Illinois Arts Council Grass Roots Grant to restore and repair the W. P.A. art collection at Freeport High School, and in 1986 earned the Freeport School District’s Excellence in Education award. She was honored with the YWCA Women of Excellence Award in 1991 and the Ellen Baltzer Education Award. She was a member of the National Art Educators Association, Illinois Art Education Association, Freeport Education Association, and National Education Association. She was a past member of the American Association of University Women and Delta Kappa Gamma, women educators association. For 17 years she taught the summer elementary gifted art program. She also taught art classes at the YWCA and part time at Highland Community College. She was a finalist in the 1978 U. S. State Department Teacher Exchange Program in England. For 2 ½ years she was an artist for Rockford television station WREX-TV. She designed fibers and ceramic panels commissioned for area banks, automobile agencies, and office buildings, including Rock River Tower and Williams Maney Insurance Agency. Three of her paintings hang in the Illinois State Office Buildings in Springfield. A goldsmith, silversmith, sculptor, painter, graphic designer, fiber and texture artist and designer, a portrait artist, calligrapher and interior designer, she showed her work in regional and local art exhibits. Since 1963, she has been a freelance artist from her restored 1884 historical structure studio gallery home, Cedar Cliff Carriage House, in Cedarville. She was an avid gardener. Surviving are her mother, Rosella M. Fertitta of Freeport; one sister, Linda S. Piefer, Freeport; and two nephews, Todd (Stacey) Piefer, Poplar Grove, and Chad Piefer of Freeport. Preceding her in death were her father, Lee Rockman, and stepfather, Raymond Fertitta. A memorial service will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with the Rev. David M. Schoenknecht officiating. There will be no visitation. Cremation rites were accorded. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Freeport High School Art Scholarship Fund. Arrangements were made by Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. (undated clipping)