DENISE ROSCHEN Obituary

DENISE ROSCHEN Denise Ann (Gniffke) Roschen of Sioux Falls, formerly of the Dawson/Clarkfield area, passed away after an extended stay at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls on Monday, January 13, 2025, at the age of 69. Denise's Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 3 p.m. at St. Lucas Lutheran Church in rural Cottonwood with Pastor Nate Roschen officiating. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the start of the service at the church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Denise Ann (Gniffke) Roschen was born in Marshall to Margaret (Evers) and Elton Gniffke on October 20, 1955. She first grew up on a farm near Milroy. Denise loved the animals and playing with her siblings, Sherry and Steve. The family then moved to a farm south of Clarkfield in 1965 and Denise began 4th grade at the Clarkfield school. She was very active in 4-H, babysitting, and school and church activities. Through 4-H she went to the State Fair for her soybean chili, and represented Minnesota in Washington, D.C. She was confirmed and was very involved in music and Luther League at St. Lucas Lutheran Church. At Clarkfield High School, Denise was active in the choir, FTA, declam, was editor of the school newspaper, and graduated with honors in 1974. On December 2, 1978, she married Delbert Schaefer of Sartell at St. Lucas. They had two children: Jacqueline in 1981 and Christopher in 1983. Denise was proud of them and loved watching them grow up. As they became adults, she enjoyed going to races and breweries with Chris while Denise and Jackie shared a love of thrift shopping and crafts. Her children were her world. Denise graduated from St. Cloud State University in Education in 1985 and began her teaching career in Sisseton, S.D. In 1990, her family moved to Dawson where she began teaching English, speech, and theater as well as being a Knowledge Bowl and speech coach at Dawson-Boyd Public Schools until her retirement in 2015. Denise loved her job and her students. She shared her passion for reading and her love of education with all that entered her classroom. She believed that "you are never done learning." In January 2006, she received her Master of Science Degree in Education at St. Mary's University in St. Paul. Denise received many honors and awards over the years as an educator. In April 2005, Denise was reconnected with high school classmate, Lee Roschen, after not having contact for 29 years. They were married at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson on December 15, 2006, and made their retirement move to Sioux Falls in 2019. The couple enjoyed many happy and fun adventures together including concerts, theater productions, cultural events, and out-of-state vacations that found them basking in the beauty of God's creation. They also enjoyed relaxing times with family and friends at the Roschen family lake home north of Alexandria. Denise loved her cats, reading, baking, and sipping her coffee. If you visited her, you knew that you would be sharing a cup with her. Denise had a deep faith in the Lord, never gave up hope, and her faith was her rock. Grateful for having shared Denise's life, she is survived by her husband, Lee; daughter, Jacqueline; son, Christopher; sister, Sherry (Michael) Boyd; brother, Steve (Deb) Gniffke, numerous nieces and nephews, the Schaefer family, and the Roschen family. Denise was preceded in death by her parents, Elton and Margaret Gniffke. Arrangements are with J.H. Lynner Funeral Home in Clarkfield. www.jhlynner.com.