Josephine Estelle (Rosenthal) Koelmel was born on Thursday, January 1, 1903 in Philadelphia. She was the daughter of Marie Georgianna (Behm) and Edward E. Rosenthal.

In the 1920 census, Josephine was living with parents and siblings at 261 Montana Street, Germantown, Philadelphia. She was working as a cutter in a lace company.

Circa 1922, she married Charles William Koelmel, Sr. and they had one child, Charles Edward Koelmel, Jr.

After living with her parents for a while, Josephine and Charles were living at 149 Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia in 1930. By 1935, she was listed as the owner and proprietor at Koelmel Kottages at 65 Lafayette Avenue, Seaside Park, Ocean County, New Jersey where she lived.

As a member of the Covenant Chapter, No. 199, Order of the Eastern Star, she had served as Past Matron.

Josephine died on January 1, 1995 at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs, Florida at the age of 92. At the time, she was survived by two granddaughters and two great grandchildren.

Charles, who was born on December 12, 1897, died on May 6, 1966 at the age of 68 in Philadelphia and was buried there also. He had been a toolmaker at Wolf Tool Works in Camden City, Camden County, New Jersey.