Folven, Roger Dennis (1940-2013)
FOLVEN, MOE, CLEMENT, WHEELER, BIRKHOLZ, RAGOOWANSI, SMITH, KIMBALL
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/8/2013 at 12:57:49
Roger Dennis Folven
May 25, 1940 - May 10, 2013Resided in Lake Mills, Iowa
Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Roger Folven, 72, passed away on May 10, 2013, at Rochester Methodist Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.
Roger was born on May 25, 1940, in Lake Mills, Iowa, the eldest son of Omer and Genevieve (Moe) Folven. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Kiester, Minnesota [rural Thompson, Iowa], on June 23, 1940, and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, on May 29, 1955. In 1958, he graduated from Austin High School where he was an All-State baseball player and avid football player. After attending Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, he graduated from Mankato State University 1964 and earned a master's degree from Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan, in 1968.
On October 18, 1958, Roger married his high school sweetheart, Judy Clement. Three lovely daughters, Sally, SuEllen, and Beth, were born to this union. Roger and Judy purchased their first home in Albert Lea, Minnesota, where they lived for eighteen years before buying Roger's dream farm south of Albert Lea. Roger always loved farming, his horses and horseback riding, and the many other animals he cared for on his farm.
For thirty-three years, Roger worked as a public school teacher. His love of teaching led him from junior high school to the senior high school where he headed the science department and also coordinated the K-12 science curriculum for several years. He also taught and directed the drivers education and motorcycle education training programs. The summer science program was always near and dear to his heart as he truly enjoyed teaching his students while enjoying nature and canoeing in the boundary waters up on the Gunflint Trail near Grand Marais, Minnesota. In addition, he had a passion flying and owning his own airplane.
After retiring from teaching in 1997, Roger and Judy purchased a home in Sun City, Arizona, where they took up golf and continued enjoying many of the their favorite hobbies such as playing cards, spending time with wonderful friends, traveling, and working with the Prides Volunteer Organization. They spent their summers at home in Lake Mills, Iowa, playing golf, socializing with friends, and going to their northern Minnesota cabin on Burnt Shanty Lake to enjoy such activities as fishing, swimming, boating, reading, and relaxing with their children and ten beautiful grandchildren. Roger was always an extremely proud and devoted father and grandfather.
Roger is survived by his loving wife of over fifty-four years, Judy, of Lake Mills, Iowa; his daughters, Sally (Kelley) Wheeler, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, SuEllen Birkholz, of Rochester, Minnesota, and Beth (Ashvin) Ragoowansi, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and his grandchildren, Steven and Scott Wheeler, David and Matthew Birkholz, and Olivia, Evan, Kieran, Aidan, Ashton, and Ava Ragoowansi; and his brothers and sisters, Jon (Marcia) Folven, Craig (Kathy) Folven, Debra (Mike) Smith, and Tammy (Tony) Kimball; as well as by numerous nieces, nephew, cousins, and great aunts and uncles.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents and several cousins, aunts, and uncles.
Memorial services will be held at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota, on Friday, May 17, 2013, at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastors John Holt and Durwood Clausen will officiate. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2013, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Bonnerup Funeral Service. Inurnment will be at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Kiester, Minnesota [rural Thompson, Iowa], following the service and luncheon at the church.
Memorials are preferred to the First Lutheran Church Peace and Power or Educational Scholarship Funds (Goddard, Hammer and Stadheim), the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund of rural Kiester, Minnesota [rural Thompson, Iowa], or a favorite charity of your choice.
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