Vera Belle Frosch

Vera Belle (Smallman) Frosch, age 95, passed away December 23, 2022. She was the only child of William and Edna (Cole) Smallman, born September 5, 1927 in Hammond, IN. Vera graduated Hammond High School in 1945 and studied dress design at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. She worked ten years as a telephone switchboard operator and supervisor for Illinois Bell. She married Robert John Frosch in 1954. They relocated from Riverdale, IL to Burlington, WI in 1966. Vera worked 23 years at the Burlington Standard Press. She was appointed Chair of the planning committee for Burlington’s U.S. Bicentennial celebration and was an honoree in the parade. In 1976, she was named “Woman of the Year” by the Burlington Federated Woman’s Club. Vera was a longtime member of Cross Lutheran Church in Burlington. In the early 1980s, she helped establish the Burlington Area Arts Council (BAAC) and gallery. She was once named Burlington’s “Artist of the Year.” She was a published author of both humorous and serious stories. Vera especially enjoyed being in the BAAC, Tom Shropshire’s Fine Art and Cheap Wine Group, and the Authors Echo writers group she founded. After her husband’s passing in 2016, Vera moved to a retirement complex in Indianapolis where she joined an art group, established a writers group, exhibited paintings, and regularly contributed to a weekly newsletter and a publication of literary submissions by residents. Vera enjoyed frequent stays at her son’s home on Heritage Lake where she relaxed, went for boat rides, painted, wrote, played cards and Mahjong, and ate chocolate. Vera was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, parents, and honorary “little brother,” Jack (Joan) Smallman. She is survived by her sons, Donald (Cara) Frosch of Coatesville, IN and Phil (Linda) Frosch of Mendota Heights, MN; 4 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Harold (Karen) Frosch of Medford, WI; 2 nieces; multiple cousins; and dear friends. A celebration of life gathering will be held Saturday, January 21st from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Robin Run Village at 5354 W. 62nd St. in Indianapolis. A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 4th at noon at Cross Lutheran Church in Burlington, WI, preceded by a visitation at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at the cemetery of Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Holway in Medford, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Cross Lutheran Church, Lutheran Social Services, the Louise Evans Scholarship Fund for Robin Run Village employees, or Greenpeace. The family wishes to thank the healthcare providers and staff at Hendricks Regional Hospital, Danville Regional Rehabilitation, Woodland Terrace of Danville, and Brighton Hospice for their skilled and compassionate care.