Rosemarie Trafelet
Rosemarie Trafelet died November 25, 2025 at age 97, surrounded by her loving children.
She was born September 9, 1928, in Hawks to John Buza and Johanna Buza (née Schultz). Sadly the marriage did not last and they divorced at the height of the Great Depression. Rosemarie was primarily raised by her mother Johanna and stepfather Ivan Trafelet, whom she adored, on a farm in Millersburg.
A voracious reader with a great mind for numbers and a quick wit, she graduated valedictorian of her Onaway High School class and briefly attended Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.
As was the custom during World War II to show support for men serving this country, women were invited to write to servicemen. Rosemarie wrote to Ivan’s brother, Fred Trafelet, who was an Air Force mechanic during World War II. When Fred returned from his Air Force service in Florida, a relationship bloomed and Rosemarie and Fred eloped to Ypsilanti September 27, 1947. (They were married for 54 years, until Fred’s death in 2003, 11 days shy of his 87th birthday).
After marrying, they soon returned to Rogers City where Fred opened the Culligan water softener franchise in 1949 and then the U-Do-It Carwash in 1965 (now called the Rogers City Carwash).
The couple lived in the back of the Culligan business for four years and, according to Rosemarie, “ate a lot of baloney sandwiches.” Still, her love of books shone through. Funds were found for a set of World Book Encyclopedias starting in the 1950s, with updated yearbooks through 2002.
Rosemarie meticulously kept the books for both businesses for 49 years. (They sold the Culligan franchise in 1989 and the carwash in 1998).
She also faithfully served as the St. John Lutheran Church Sunday school treasurer for 40 years where they both were members. She was a member of the Ladies Aid and Missionary League at the church, and even though she did not sew she was part of the quilters at St. John who made quilts for Lutheran World Relief. (The women made more than 100 quilts a year to send to disaster sites.)
They bought only one home together, a house on Birch Street where she resided for more than 68 years. Fred found the house the day he went to remove a water softener and offered to buy the home by putting a dollar down and a handshake to seal the deal with the town’s former blacksmith, Louis Schmit.
One day a lawn care salesman knocked on their door. Rosemarie told him, “We aren’t lawn people. We are kids and pets people.” Yes, their lawn reflected their preference for the chaos of children and numerous pets through the decades.
They raised four children in that home along with many beloved cats and dogs, and a couple of parakeets. Rosemarie also enjoyed the friends she made in Rogers City and dearly missed them after a stroke recently shifted her into an assisted living unit in Traverse City.
Rosemarie is survived by her children, James Trafelet (Denise Sarchet Trafelet) of Traverse City, Terri Trafelet (Robert Ruzick) of New Lenox, Illinois and Bonnie Trafelet of Chicago, Illinois; her grandchildren, Josie Shink (Tyson) and Jacob Trafelet; and two great-grandsons, Jameson and Elliot Shink, all of Traverse City.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Trafelet; her parents, Ivan and Johanna Trafelet; her son, Charles Trafelet; and her father, John Buza.
Visitation was at St. John Lutheran Church Sa
Interment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery.
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21.
Memorial donations can be made to the St. John Radio Fund, the Sunrise Side Pantry (https://rcwpc.org/pantry) at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rogers City or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org.
