Debra A. Rose

Debra Ann Rose (Hayes)

Debbie Rose was an angel who lived on earth for 63 years. 

Debbie was born on September 5, 1958, to Cal and Barbara Rose, two wonderful parents who raised an intelligent and lovely daughter. Debbie was kind, fun and caring, and excelled at whatever she attempted to accomplish. Even on her deathbed, under the most trying of circumstances, Debbie left us with grace, along with a warm and pretty face that refused to lose its beauty, even in death. 

Debbie passed away on Monday, February 14, 2022, at the Unity Hospice residence with her loving family by her side. 

Debbie was born in Green Bay, but also grew up in Omaha, Neb., Rapid City, S.D., and Coshocton, Ohio, before returning with her family to Green Bay. She graduated from Ashwaubenon High School in 1976 and went on to earn an accounting degree from Lakeland College. She worked at Wipfli Accounting and Robert E. Lee & Associates before becoming a full-time accounting instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in 1992 until her retirement in 2018. 

Debbie was loved by her students and co-workers.  She was extremely dedicated to her students and developed many strong friendships with her co-workers. 

Debbie married the lucky Jim Hayes on July 27, 1990, and they lived and loved together for 31 years of marriage. Debbie taught Jim to love cats. Jim coaxed Debbie into becoming somewhat of a sports fan. Some of their favorite times in recent years was attending Chicago Bears training camp in Bourbonnais, IL. While at training camp, Debbie became an expert at swiping Bears-themed yard signs to help decorate their office at home. Debbie also joined Jim on annual trips to Chicago White Sox games, even though she never really cared for baseball. Debbie went on these trips because she knew her being there made Jim happy. 

Debbie loved animals, especially her many cats. She loved country music and REO Speedwagon. She loved ice cream. She loved her family. She loved to swim. She loved mushroom and swiss burgers. She loved pepperoni pizza with black olives and mushrooms. She loved to read. Jim knew her like a book. He also knows how incredibly difficult it’s going to be to spend the rest of his days without having the Love of his Life to confide in and to get help from. From virtually the day they met, Debbie always was his sweet little angel with the Haunting Good Looks.

Despite her somewhat reserved demeanor, Debbie also was a daredevil of sorts. She twice drove stock cars on Nascar tracks as part of the Richard Petty experience. Debbie also loved to drive snowmobiles, sometimes a little too fast, with her sister Barb Baeten and brother-in-law Brad Baeten. Debbie also was somewhat famous for being able to steer an inner tube with her knees while boating with family on the Fox River.

Debbie was living life seemingly on cruise control and getting close to retirement when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January of 2017. Despite surgeries, countless chemo treatments and numerous ups and downs, Debbie was the definition of courage, positivity and grit throughout the past five years.  She did not lose her battle with cancer. Far from it, because she never walked away from the fight. In the end, God just decided to give her a break one day and called her to heaven in order to see her beautiful face.

Debbie was a long-time member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. In fact, Debbie and her parents and siblings were among the founding members of the church. Debbie and Jim sold script for many years after Sunday services and also helped Cal and Barbara on occasion when they kept track of church contributions.

Along with Jim, Debbie is survived by her father:  Cal Rose; sister:  Barb (Brad) Baeten; and brother: Joe (Jodie) Rose; along with sisters-in-law: Jill (Greg) Mitchell, and Janet Hayes. She is also survived by niece:  Kallista Mitchell; nephews: Justin, Nicholas and Vince Rose, Jayson and Corey Mitchell.

Debbie was preceded in death by her mother: Barbara Rose, whom she deeply missed since Barbara passed away in 2016. Debbie also was preceded in death by her in-laws Donna and Jerry Hayes.

A funeral service to celebrate Debbie’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Monday February 21, 2022, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 2160 Packerland Dr., Green Bay, With Rev. Leon Ehlert officiating. Relatives and friends may greet the family from 10:00 am until the time of service at 11:00 am at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church.  Visitation will also occur on Sunday February 20, 2022 at Lyndahl Funeral Home, 1350 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. 

Jim and the Rose family would like to thank Debbie’s aunt, Judy Gauthier, for the remarkable and loving attention and support she gave Debbie during her health battles, especially during the past month when Debbie was hospitalized on two occasions. The family would also like to thank the staff of Unity Hospice along with the staff of Green Bay Oncology for the care they gave Debbie, especially Dr. Brian Burnette, Dr. Matt Ryan, Dr. Mitch Winkler, Alisha Parma, Brittany Walczyk and Kristen Koerten.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the family by visiting www.lyndahl.com

The Lyndahl Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements.

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