Uros Roessmann died at his home in Helena, Montana, on September 14, 2018, after a long illness. He was 93 years old. Uros was a loving and devoted husband to Millie, his wife of 61 years, and she returned his love with tireless care until the very end. He is survived by Millie; his sister, Ada, of Rovigo, Italy; four children, four grandchildren, one great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. He loved us all.
As a small boy, he had long curly hair and a dimple in his chin, and when his mother dressed him in a white poet’s shirt with a large floppy tie, he looked like the prince in a fairytale. The ladies loved him. He lost the bow and the long curls, but never the dimple or the charm, and the ladies loved him till the end. He was a stamp collector, gardener, avid composter, swimmer and a downhill skier. He had remarkable balance, even after illness made him frail and wobbly, and he never fell.
He was born in Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia, the youngest of five in a middle class family. His brother Joseph was killed during the brutal fighting between communist and anti-communist in occupied Slovenia during the WWII. As Russian troops advanced from the south in May, 1945, the family fled north on foot, carrying his grandfather’s genealogy research and a collection paintings by Slovenian artists. In 2004, Uros and Millie presented the most important of those paintings, a portrait by Mihael Stroj, to the National Gallery of Slovenia.
Home until 1949, home was a wooden barracks in an Austrian refugee camp. When at last the United States welcomed a limited number of refugees through a sponsorship program, Uros found paradise at his sponsor, Ohio State University. Just weeks after leaving the camps, he was among 80,000 rapturous Buckeyes in OSU’s immense stadium and underwent a secular conversion to Buckeyes fandom that was one of his life’s profound experiences.
He embarked on his medical education at age 18 but by the time he became a practicing physician in 1965, he was 40 years old. He was a neuropathologist at University Hospitals of Cleveland and taught at his alma mater, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, discharged as a Captain in 1964. After retirement, he returned to Slovenia twice to teach at the medical school where he had first enrolled.
Though Dad spoke perfect English, he never had “the gift of gab,” as he put it, in any language. Instead, he listened well, spoke carefully after much thought, and extended perfect courtesy toward everyone. He had a remarkable, possibly photographic memory, so was a walking encyclopedia to his four children. He loved to travel in his adopted country and abroad, and taught us to be curious citizens of the world. He and Millie demonstrated their continued resilience by moving to Montana at the age of 80, to the great joy of their children who had settled there and in Oregon and Colorado.
Dad’s patience, kindness and generosity were a testament to his deep Catholic faith. At his daughter’s wedding, he read, with uncommon intensity, 1 Corinthians 13. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” That was the way our Dad, Uros Roessmann, lived his love for us. Now he abides in love forever.
Viewing will be at 4:00 p.m. with a vigil to begin at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 18th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19th at the Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N. Ewing St. A reception will follow the Mass in the Brondel Center located in the lower level of the Cathedral. Rite of Committal will follow the reception at Resurrection Cemetery.
Service Schedule
Viewing
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Tuesday September 18, 2018
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Vigil
6:00 pm
Tuesday September 18, 2018
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Mass of Christian Burial
12:00 pm
Wednesday September 19, 2018
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing St
Helena, MT 59601
Reception
Following Funeral Mass
Wednesday September 19, 2018
Brondel Center
Lower level of the Cathedral
Helena, MT 59601
Rite of Committal
Following reception
Wednesday September 19, 2018
Resurrection Cemetary
3685 N. Montana
Helena, MT 59602
Service Schedule
Viewing
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Tuesday September 18, 2018
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Vigil
6:00 pm
Tuesday September 18, 2018
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Mass of Christian Burial
12:00 pm
Wednesday September 19, 2018
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing St
Helena, MT 59601
Reception
Following Funeral Mass
Wednesday September 19, 2018
Brondel Center
Lower level of the Cathedral
Helena, MT 59601
Rite of Committal
Following reception
Wednesday September 19, 2018
Resurrection Cemetary
3685 N. Montana
Helena, MT 59602
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Tom Mortimer says
My head is full of memories: 1 the many hours I spent on the other side of the microscope with Uros guiding me through the histology scene we were sharing and 2. the times he and Millie walked by our home on Fairfax and Lamberton on one of their many walks in the Cleveland Heights neighborhood. The times I had with Uros in Neuropathology were important and formative time in my professional life. Have thought of Uros often since he an Millie moved to an area with better skiing. Warmest regards, Tom Mortimer
Mimi Foster says
Another Link in our family fence is now missing. As long as we all look back and forward while holding hands to close the broken link the hole will no longer show but the pain, memories and a wonderful very much loved individual who was part of our lives will live on. Uros is now an angel that will surely watch over all of us. Always enjoyed his discussions and laughter with that twinkle in his eye. Prayers to all of us who are left behind. You will surely be missed.
Margaret Rak and children says
Our deepest sympathy to Millie and all the Roessmann children. We hold all the memories of our times together close to our heart. We always enjoyed all our outings either to Holden Arboreteum or our ski trips. Max and Uros surely enjoyed a wonderful and everlasting friendship.
Know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Bevin Gumm says
Many thoughts to the Roessmann children and Millie. We are dear friends of Peter, Madeline and Will from Boulder, CO. We only met Uros once when he watched Will play soccer at a gathering. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you celebrate a life well lived. May the memories you have comfort you at this time. Know you are being held in our thoughts and prayers by friends and we are thinking of you all as you mourn the loss of Uros.
Sri Vellanki says
My deepest condolences to your family. Uros was remarkable in his kindness and humility. As a fellow Ohioan and physician, he always put me at ease like a long lost friend. We had much in common… my father was a pathologist, we both spent time in Cleveland, he knew many of the professors I had in medical school. I will always remember him with a warm heart.
Marlene and Tom Bambrick says
Millie, Anita, Cathy, Peter and Michael,
We are very sorry for your loss and pray for your families. We are honored to have known Uros and your family. There are so many wonderful memories from being your neighbors in Cleveland. We fondly remember our trip out west and the quality time we spent with you. Please accept our sincere condolences and love.
Marlene and Tom Bambrick