William Henry Dominic Rosso

Other Events:

• Address: 1968, Effingham, Effingham, Illinois, United States

Notes:

William H. "Bill" Rosso, a long-time Effingham County resident, died Jan. 25, 2016, at Evergreen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, at the age of 99.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Sacred Heart Church, Effingham. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Effingham, with military rites. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Johnson Funeral Home, 1110 N. 4th Street in Effingham, with 6:30 p.m. Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Rites. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the FACE orchestra or to a charitable organization of your choice. Online condolences to the family may be left at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com
Williiam Henry Dominic Rosso was born in St Louis, Missouri, Oct. 22, 1916, the son of Dominic Rosso and Friedaricka (Frieda) Vogel Rosso. He married Elaine Margaret Gorman in Chicago, March 1, 1946. After 66 years of marriage, Elaine Rosso died Aug. 26, 2012, in Effingham.
After attending Southern Illinois University, Bill was graduated from the University of Illinois in 1942 with a degree in Vocational Agriculture. In 1949, he was awarded a Master of Science in Agriculture, also from the University of Illinois.
Bill was inducted into the U.S. Army in September 1942. He served with the US Army Air Corps Weather Service in the U.S., Rome and North Africa, where he trained weather briefers. His citations included the American Theater Ribbon, the EAME Theater Ribbon, the World War II Victory Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal. Bill received an honorable discharge in 1946.
Bill taught vocational agriculture in Brussels, Illinois, a small Calhoun County town north of St. Louis. He moved to Central Illinois in 1947 and worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Tuscola. He lived for a short time in Hume, where he owned a fertilizer business. He and his family then moved to Altamont, where he taught vocational agriculture at Altamont High School. In 1958, he moved to Effingham where he was Farm Service Representative, Trust Officer, and Vice President at the Effingham State Bank. He retired from the bank at the age of 62.
Always interested in music, he taught guitar to finance his college education. He studied violin at the University of Illinois with Paul Rolland. In his first teaching assignment in Brussels, he taught accordion and organized a student orchestra. He played in a dance band in the Tuscola area. While teaching at Altamont High School, he played trumpet with the high school summer band. For several years, he played the violin at Christmas Mass at Sacred Heart Church. In his later years, he entertained at nursing homes in the area with other musicians. Bill helped to organize Fine Arts — County of Effingham (FACE) and the FACE orchestra. He played violin in the FACE orchestra until he was 93 and continued to play the violin until he was 95.
His passion for music was equaled by his love of gardening. From the time he was a young teenager, he raised vegetables and flowers. He attended the first Master Gardener class sponsored by the Effingham County U of I Extension Service. In 1997, he was the first Effingham County resident to be named Illinois Outstanding Master Gardener by the University of Illinois. His garden in Effingham was a source of beauty for the neighborhood, and he donated vegetables to those in need. He was featured in a story, "Making the Garden Grow", in the Effingham Daily News March 7, 2001. For a number of years, he raised cattle on a farm West of Effingham.
A member of the Knights of Columbus for over 60 years, Bill was inducted into the Springfield Diocese Chapter Hall of Fame in October 2008. He joined the Tuscola council and received his Fourth Degree in Springfield in 1949. He served as the Deputy Grand Knight in the Tuscola council in the early 1950s and as Grand Knight in the Effingham council in 1956-58 and again in 1977. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Effingham Assembly Fourth Degree in 1963. He served as Chartered Faithful Navigator, Chancellor for the Degree Term, and membership director. He edited the council newsletter and attended state conventions. Bill also initiated the “chalice service” for the Effingham Assembly and until 2011 regularly assisted at the presentation of chalices in honor of deceased Knights.
As a child, William H. Rosso was a member of St Vincent’s Parish in St. Louis, where he made his first communion in 1924 and was confirmed in 1925. Bill was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Effingham since 1958, serving as an usher and lector and helping in both the school and parish. He and his wife were members of the Confraternity for Christian Doctrine and assisted in educational programs for high school students at the parish. Bill and Elaine enjoyed traveling and participated in Elder Hostel trips in Europe and the United States.
During his years in Effingham County, Bill was active in community activities. For the Effingham County Fair, he served as Chairman of the parade committee, ran the vegetable exhibit and, for a time, was director of the Fair Board. He worked with the Effingham County Red Cross, serving as president of the chapter and fund-raising chairman. He was director of the Effingham County Soil Conservation District and organized a pasture improvement contest. Bill was also a member of the Board of the Effingham County 4-H Foundation, and in 1998, he served as its President.
Bill was a life member of the Effingham American Legion and VFW posts. In earlier years, he was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Lodge No. 1016, and attended a national convention as a member of the judging team.
Bill is survived by three children and their spouses, Margaret (Peggy) Grossman and Michael Grossman of Urbana, William H. Rosso, Jr. and Susan Drake Rosso of Gurnee, and Patricia Rosso and Robert Smilowitz of Brooklyn, New York. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Aaron (Charnella) Grossman, Daniel Grossman, Nathaniel (Elise Frawley) Smilowitz, Michael Smilowitz, Matthew Rosso, and Jessie Rosso. He is also survived by a brother Dominic Rosso of St. Louis and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Gorman Rosso; parents, Dominic and Frieda Vogel Rosso; and four sisters, Julia Nogalski, Pauline Rosso, Marie Hucke, and Ruth Sliment.

- Effingham Daily News, January 25 2016


Alternate birthdate 26 Oct 1917 (unknown source); replaced with birthdate 22 Oct 1916 from obituary, Jan 2016.

William married Elaine Margaret Mary Gorman 1 Mar 1946. Elaine (daughter of William C. Gorman and Josephine Burke) was born 22 Feb 1918, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States; died 26 Aug 2012, St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham, Effingham, Illinois, United States; was buried 30 Aug 2012, Woodlawn Cemetery, Effingham, Effingham, Illinois, United States. [Group Sheet]

1. M. Rosso
2. W.H. Rosso, Jr.
3. P. Rosso

Other Events:

• Address: 1942, Centerville Station, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; from draft card
• Occupation: Before 1945; "Operator of a trucking firm." (source, Frieda's obit)

Dominic married Friedaricka A. Vogel 11 Oct 1911, St. Louis, City, Missouri, United States. Friedaricka (daughter of Henry J. Vogel and Wilhelmina P. Loesch) was born 28 Aug 1888; died 4 Aug 1968, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; was buried Aug 1968, St. Mary's Cemetery, Centreville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Address: 1968, 101 North 42nd Street, Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; from obituary

Notes:

Name sometimes given as Friedericka. Friedaricka spelling comes from personal papers of son William Rosso and may be more accurate.

Other Events:

• Address: 1872, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States; son Anthony wrote: "resided 16 years, 1872-1888 Chicago & St. Louis"
• Emigration: 1872, Naples, Italy; from son Anthony's 1922 passport app, "father Domenick Rosso born Italy, deceased, emigrated from Naples, 1872 resided 16 years, 1872-1888 Chicago & St. Louis, I do not think he was naturalized"
• Immigration: 22 Jul 1872, New York, New York, United States; Ship Denmark, National Line, departed Le Havre, France and London, arrived New York 22 Jul 1872. Source: New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
• Address: 1888, 318 Valentine St, St. Louis, City, Missouri, United States; About one block from new Busch Stadium.

Domenico married Maria Giacinta Abbate Bef 1867, Italy. Maria (daughter of Vincenzo Abbate and Celestina Volino) was born 26 Aug 1846, Laurenzana, Potenza, Italy; died 29 Jan 1890, St. Louis, City, Missouri, United States; was buried 31 Jan 1890, Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery, St. Louis, City, Missouri, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Immigration: 22 Jul 1872, New York, New York, United States; Ship Denmark, National Line, departed Le Havre, France and London, arrived New York 22 Jul 1872. Source: New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Other Events:

• Address: 1900, Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; living City of Belleville at time of 1900 census.
• Occupation: 1900, Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; Cigar maker (1900 US Census)
• Occupation: 1910, Millstadt, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; Farmer
• Occupation: 1920, Millstadt, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; Farmer

Notes:

Origin of Henry Vogel:

Henry Vogel's census entries for 1900, 1910, and 1920 are all clearly for the same person - they show him with wife Wilhelmina/Mina/Minnie, and the same children. All show his birthplace as Illinois, and the 1900 census shows his birthdate as Sep 1861.

The birthplaces he gave for his parents:

1900 - Germany, Germany
1910 - Germany, Germany
1920 - Prussia, Hannover

In 1910 Henry and Mina Vogel lived next to George F, Louisa E., and Alvin T. Vogel. George was about seven years younger than Henry. Assuming that this George is likely Henry's younger brother, this may serve as an aid to finding Henry's parents.

Henry married Wilhelmina P. Loesch 11 Oct 1887, St. Clair, Illinois, United States. Wilhelmina (daughter of Henry Loesch and Elizabeth Stark) was born 30 Sep 1863, Illinois, United States; died 12 Aug 1922, Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital, St. Louis, City, Missouri, United States; was buried 15 Aug 1922, Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Name taken from his son Domenico Antonio Rossi's birth cert. No other info known.

Angelo — Teresa Romano. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Name taken from her son Domenico Antonio Rossi's birth cert. No other info known.

Notes:

Name taken from his daughter's birth cert. No other info known.

Vincenzo married Celestina Volino 23 Aug 1865, Laurenzana, Potenza, Italy. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Name taken from her daughter's birth cert. No other info known.

F.C.C. married Justina Wild Justina was born 18 Jun 1835, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Deutschland; died 17 May 1879; was buried 1879, Centreville Cemetery, Millstadt, St. Clair, Illinois, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1849, United States; (from 1900 US Census, immigrated 1849)
• Address: 1880, Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; from 1880 census
• Occupation: 1880, Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; Broom Manufacturer (from 1880 census)

Henry married Elizabeth Stark Before 1856, Ohio, United States. Elizabeth was born ca 1832, Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland; died Bef 1900. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Occupation: 1880, Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States; Keeping House (1880 census)