Rosalee Star Chief

1936 - 2025

Rosalee Star Chief
Manistee, Michigan
11/09/1936 - 11/07/2025
Rosalee Delores (Leo) Star Chief, age 88, of Manistee, MI, passed away peacefully at home on November 7, 2025.
Born in Cross Village, MI, on November 9, 1936, to Sampson and Cecelia (Nanagos) Leo, Rose was an enrolled member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. Her family moved to Grand Rapids when she was a young girl, where she attended St. Alphonsus School, Catholic Central High School, and graduated from Marywood Academy. She later earned her associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College (formerly Grand Rapids Junior College) and her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in math and science, from Aquinas College in 1986.
Rose worked for General Motors and retired in 1992. After graduation, she lived and worked in Denver, Colorado, where she met and married Lawrence Star Chief. Their daughter, Karen Star Chief, was born in 1971. Rose later returned to Grand Rapids, where she and Karen built a beautiful life surrounded by family.
Rose grew up playing baseball with her brothers, which sparked a lifelong love of softball. She was known for her skill as a shortstop but was valued throughout the field. She cherished time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and faithfully supported her large extended family's shared love of sports. She had a gift for making her nieces and nephews feel special and deeply loved.
Rose was an advocate for Native Americans in her lifetime. She was an active member of the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association, the organization that petitioned and won federal recognition for the Little Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa Indians. She participated in the Longest Walk in 1978 with her family.
Rose will also be fondly remembered for her devotion to Elvis Presley, her love of reading and bike riding, and her joy in attending powwows and traveling. Above all, she was known for her strong faith, kind heart, sense of humor, and the love she showed to everyone around her.
She was blessed with many dear friends throughout her life, including Elaine Sanford, Patricia Watkins, Jean Aldrich, Theresa Nelson, Sara VanDeKar, Rachel Chisholm, Dick Mathews, and Dave Wills, some of whom have since passed on but remained close to her heart.
Rose is survived by her daughter, Karen (Pete) Schaab(Star Chief) of Manistee; grandchildren Celia Star Chief, Jackson Star Chief, Ava Star Chief, and Sampson Schaab; and great-grandchildren Elijah Ross and Emberly Dietz, all of Manistee.
She was preceded in death by her sisters Margaret (Leo) Pontiac, Gloria (Leo) Chisholm, and Ruth (Leo) Eagleman; and her brothers Richard Leo, Robert Leo, Samuel J. Leo, and Norman Joseph "Joe" Leo, Nephew Richard Red Bow, Niece Theresa Leo.
A celebration of life gathering for Rosalee will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday November 15, 2025, at the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Aki Maadiziwin Community Center on Dontz Road.
A funeral will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at St. Alphonsus in Grand Rapids, MI with visitation starting at 10 a.m. and Mass starting at 11 a.m.
Please feel free to share a memory or photo with the family at www.oakgrovefh.com. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Manistee.