Leonhard Sebastian Rose

Leonhard Sebastian Rose (Len)

Len joined his wife Colleen, parents Matilda and William, and baby sister Barbara Ann, in Heaven on Monday October 20, 2025 at age 94. Len was married to Colleen, his college sweetheart and loving wife of 66 years, and cared for her throughout their lives. He was best friends with Rev. Charles (Chuck) Freuden, from 2nd grade through the end of his life.

Len was the beloved father of William (Anne) Rose, Barbara (Paul) Ahlf, Mary Rose Gerbig (William Houlihan), Maureen (Tedd) Griepentrog, John (Nancy) Rose, David (Susan) Rose, and Thomas (Jennifer) Rose. He will be missed by his many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren. He always loved the many large family gatherings and parties.

Len was a graduate of the Milwaukee State Teachers College, now the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. After serving as a Sargent in the Army, he received his Masters of Music degree from the University of Michigan. Music education was central to his life. He was a musician, conductor and composer who also excelled as an organist, pianist and trombonist. Len performed with the Milwaukee and Waukesha Symphonies. Len was a teacher for over forty years, and taught band, choir and orchestra at South Division and Bay View High Schools in Milwaukee. He taught trombone and low brass students at Carroll College and privately. Len was the church organist at Ascension Lutheran Church from 1970 -2010. He was a brass coach for Music for Youth, now the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestras, and a strong supporter of youth music programs in Milwaukee. Len served as the Milwaukee Co. Cultural Activities Supervisor, and assistant to Music Director John Anello for many years of the Music Under the Stars Programs in the many fantastic Milwaukee County Parks. Len was a Milwaukee Civic Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. In his free time, he was also an avid golfer, golfing with the same foursome for fifty years.

Len was an amazing person who brought joy and support to an extraordinarily wide circle of students, colleagues, family and friends throughout his life. He was a true renaissance man, who in addition to his music, loved home, garden and cooking projects. What couldn't he do? Len was not very good at driving a tractor, a fact his farming relatives reminisced about frequently at numerous Christmas gatherings. He always welcomed new experiences, new people and was there for his family and friends.

Memorial gathering will be held on SATURDAY, November 22, 2025 at Discovery World PAVILION, 500 North Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, 53202, from 11 AM - 1 PM. A Celebration Service of Len's Life will begin at 1 PM. Luncheon provided.

If desired, Memorials on Len's behalf may be made to: Milwaukee Civic Music Association, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestras.