Rosalie Gronau Kilper

Rosalie Gronau Kilper, 82, passed away peacefully of natural causes on January 23, 2025 at Eatontown NJ.

Rosalie was born on June 2, 1942 in East St. Louis, MO to Walter and Marie Louise Gronau. She was a haut couture fashion model, artist, and advocate for mental health. She began her career in St. Louis where she appeared in numerous photo shoots including Seventeen Magazine. She later moved to New York City to work for the Ford Models Agency where she was notably on the covers of Mademoiselle and Modern Bride and in Life Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar. She worked in shows in Europe and the US. She continued her modelling career in Chicago and Houston before moving to Blacksburg, Virginia where she began her career as an artist.

Her art work includes textiles and painting. She worked together with her husband of 54 years, Dennis Kilper, a Virginia Tech Professor of Architecture and artist who passed away in 2018. Together they were a creative force of knowledge and inspiration for so many others.

Throughout her life, Rosalie gave her time and compassion generously as an advocate for mental health and voice for women’s rights.

Rosalie is survived by her two sons Dennis Kilper, Jr. and Daniel Kilper and his wife Yan Pan, and grandchildren Thurgood, Tristan, and Isabella, nieces Dawn, Danielle, and Christian, and nephews David and Alex.

Remembrance services are being planned in St. Louis and Blacksburg.

Services are entrusted to Jersey Shore Cremation, 43 Taylor Avenue, Manasquan, NJ.