STELLA HELENA ROEPKE

Stella Helena Roepke

March 12, 1923-February 13, 2021

Stella Roepke passed away at the Sleepy Eye Care Center, Sleepy Eye, MN on February 13, 2021, at the age of 97 years, 11 months and 1 day.

Stella Helena Black was born at her rural home in Wellington Township, Fairfax, MN, on March 12, 1923. She was the daughter of Henry J and Adelia (Kiecker) Black.

She was baptized on April 8, 1923, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, Wellington Township. She attended Emanuel Lutheran Parochial School and Stella was confirmed on May 24, 1936, at Emanuel Lutheran Church. She graduated from Fairfax Public High School in June 1942.

Stella married Alvin Roepke on June 20, 1944, at Emanuel Lutheran Church. They lived on the family farm in Stewart, MN, and moved to Fairfax in 1958. Alvin passed away in April 1996. Stella and Alvin were blessed with one daughter, Cynthia. Stella was a homemaker and a teacher. During the early years of raising their daughter, she attended Mankato State College, Mankato, MN, and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.

Stella taught various grade levels for 32 years at public schools in Minnesota, including Maynard, Hector, Buffalo Lake, Franklin, and New Ulm. She taught one year in Corpus Christi, Texas during her time there. She was a dedicated teacher and went above and beyond to help each child learn.

Stella was a long-time member of St John Lutheran Church, Fairfax, where she was also a lifetime member of the Ladies Aid. Stella was meticulous and loved gardening, spending hours tending to her beautiful flowers. She won several awards for her efforts. Her garden was the first to burst forth with tulips in the spring, and last to bid the summer goodbye with the many different varieties of flowers. She spent parts of each summer traveling throughout the United States. She visited each state, with Hawaii being her favorite destination.

Stella was a devoted and loving wife, mother, aunt, and great-aunt. She was kindhearted, caring, and was always doing something for others. Holidays, birthdays, special occasions, and family gatherings were important to her and she attended them all. It wasn’t a party without her baked cream puffs! She will be dearly missed.

Stella is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Roepke Breeding, Corpus Christi, TX; nieces, Joan (Kalk) and Rich Forst, Carolyn (Kalk) and Michael Fahey, Connie (Allan) Kalk; and by grand-nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews; many cousins, and friends.

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Alvin; son-in-law, Larry Breeding; sister and brother-in-law, Selma and Marvin Kalk; and nephew, Allan Kalk.

To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: mvfh.org.

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