The passing of my Grandma

My Grandma, Darlene Roepke, passed away yesterday, Sunday Oct 5th, ending her 15 month battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). The last 15 months were not easy for her or the family. I take comfort in knowing she is now with Jesus and doesn't struggle with every day tasks like talking, swallowing and breathing.

My grandmother has always been a "strong" German woman. Yes, I am sure some of my stubbornness was a direct result of her. She held this trait until the very end. I picture in my mind Jesus holding her hand saying "Come along now, it is time to go." and her replying "NO! I am not ready yet." Then the scene proceeds with Jesus and a host of angels pulling and struggling to get her to come along, and her still not being ready just yet. She didn't want to miss out on anything after all. And just because someone else said so (even if it is Jesus) why would she be rushed to do something?

One of my very fond memories of my Grandma is cooking with her. When I was a kid Grandma and Grandpa would pick me up from home and I would go spend the weekend at their house. I would ride on the "hump" in the middle of the bench seat in front.

I would spend the weekend with them. I would get up when I heard Grandpa and Grandma up and already hard at work. I would start the day with a hot dog for breakfast, the good too. Nothing like starting your day with a weeks worth of sodium. I would work for hours with my grandma mixing big batches of tuna salad and homemade bread dough. We would mix the tuna in a bowl so big I think I was mixing up to my elbows. She taught me how add seasonings, taste it and decide what else would need to be added. We would make something for supper for when my parents picked me up. We would make cinnamon rolls and buns from our fresh dough.

Then I would get tired of cooking and go outside and chase the chickens and play with the dogs and cats. Sometimes I would get to go throw the food waste to the pigs.

Is it any wonder two of my favorite things to this day are animals and cooking.


Below is her obituary:

Darlene Lois Roepke nee Will, 74, of New Germany, Minnesota, died Sunday, October 5, 2008, at 9:45am at Elim Home in Watertown, Minnesota.

Darlene was born July 20, 1934, to Wilmer and Olga (Harthun) Will, the oldest of seven children. She was born and raised in rural Young America, Carver County. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Mayer. On September 14, 1951, Darlene married Alden Walter Roepke at St Mark Lutheran Church, New Germany. They had five children. She was a lifelong resident of Carver County. She was a member of Ladies Aid at St. John Lutheran Church of Hollywood, 4-H of Carver County, local Homemaker’s Group, 500 Card Club, and was an active member of the New Germany community. She loved to cook and bake and share with her friends and neighbors. She enjoyed feeding and watching the many varieties of birds that came to her feeders.

Darlene was preceded in death by her son, Steven; parents; father and mother-in-law Emil and Hilda Roepke; brothers, Eugene and Arlen; and sisters, Arlyce Larson and Mary Ann Kes.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Alden, of Waconia; daughters and sons-in-law, Tom and Scheryl Moonen, of Waconia, Mark and Sheila Heuer, of Lake Crystal, and James and Shelley Borka of New Germany; and son Scott, of New Germany. Those who mourn her death include grandchildren, Joshua Moonen, of St. Boni, Alesha and Nicholas Schutz, of Cottage Grove, Amy Heuer, of Lake Forest, Illinois, Jayson Heuer of Las Vegas, Nevada, Heidi Heuer of Valparaiso, Indiana, and John and Jacob Borka of New Germany; sisters and brothers-in-law, Gordon and Millicent Miller, of New Germany, and Curtis and Lanette Thaemert, of Mayer; sisters-in-law Marcia Schiferli, of Excelsior, and Joan Will, of Chaska; brothers-in-law, David Larson, of Maple Plain, and Aronld Kes, of Baxter; brothers-in-law and wives, Donald and Mabel Roepke of Waseca, and Darrell and Sandi Roepke of New Germany; and many nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.