Rosemary L. “Ronie” Varney, 85, Stevens Point, died
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, at her home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m.
Monday, Nov. 21, at Holy Spirit Parish in Stevens Point, with the Rev. Tom
Lindner presiding. Burial will be at St. Stephen Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Boston Funeral Home from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday,
Nov. 20, and at the church from 9:30 a.m. Monday until the Mass.

Memorials may be made to Community Industries Corporation,
Operation Bootstrap or The Portage County Public Library.

Condolences may be offered online at
www.bostonfuneralhome.net.

Mrs. Varney was born Oct. 16, 1931, in Stevens Point, a
daughter of the late Allan F. and Leone E. (Baukin) Leahy. She attended St.
Stephen School and graduated from P. J. Jacobs High School in 1949.

She received a journalism degree from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison in 1954.

She was married to David D. Varney Sept. 18, 1954, in
Stevens Point. He died Feb. 7, 2002.

After the marriage, the couple moved to Chicago where she
worked for Libby. The couple then returned to settle in Stevens Point in 1955.

She later worked for Wisconsin State University-Stevens
Point (now UW-Stevens Point).

She and her husband were active in the local community,
helping to establish the Achievement Center and the Community Industries
Corporation. They were advocates and pioneers in providing educational benefits
for special needs children. She was also active in the Wisconsin and Portage
County Special Olympics.

She was a member of the American Association of University
Women (AAUW), the League of Women Voters and the Wisconsin Regional Writers.
She was also a member of the Stevens Point Curling Club.

She wrote many stories and articles that were published in
magazines, and she authored a children’s book. 
She was an accomplished painter, bridge player, knitter, quilter, wood
carver, sewer and painter in the Norwegian art of rosemaling.

Survivors include one daughter, Lisa Varney, Lyndon Station;
four sons, Mark (Sooji), San Leandro, Calif., Paul
(Laura), Canton, Mich., and Jack and Carl (Linda), both of Stevens Point; one sister,
Constance Donovan, Brown Deer; one brother, S. Peter Leahy, Cable; three grandsons;
and two sisters-in-law, Janet (James) Boldig, Shelby Township, Mich., and
Patricia McNaul, West Lawn, Pa.