Rosalie Ivy Gellman

Rosalie Ivy Schlitz Gellman, 96, passed away peacefully at home on March 31, 2026, in San Francisco. Rosalie was born September 6, 1929, to Dave and Hattie Schlitz in Portsmouth, Virginia, where she began her career as a professional ventriloquist, performing on her own radio show and later in the Catskills, Manhattan, and the Midwest.

She met Edward Gellman during WWII, when he was serving in the U.S. Navy, and they were married in 1950. They traveled the world together, and she cared for him through his final illness. She earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

At the age of 70, she entered Marquette University Law School, graduating in 2002, and served by invitation as a law clerk to Federal District Judge Lynn Adelman.

Along with Ed, she was a devoted and generous supporter and honoree of many causes, especially ORT, Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Israel Bonds, and the ACLU.

Rosalie continued her and Ed's wise, generous tradition of keeping their widespread family close with a wonderful trip every year. Her descendants and their spouses adored "Bubbie," as did hundreds of their friends, as well as her own.

In 2022, she began a final happy chapter with many new friends in San Francisco. Rosalie is survived by her son, David (Salo Rawet); daughter, Susan Gellman (Jack Chomsky); grandchildren, Benjamin Gellman-Chomsky (Melissa Gellman) and Audrey Zada (Sahar); great-grandchildren, Will and Eddy Zada and Rebecca Gellman; beloved relatives; and countless friends. She was preceded in death by Edward, her parents, and siblings Lester Schlitz and Shirley Willner.

Graveside services will be held at Mound Zion Cemetery, 14510 W. North Avenue, Brookfield, WI on Monday, April 6, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.

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