1948
Roxanne
2024
Roxanne Fuerstenau
December 20, 1948 — June 9, 2024
Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inner organs. You wove me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows that very well.
Roxanne was born December 20, 1948 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She was a special creation of God given to John Gordon and his wife Dagmar (nee) Munson and was the oldest in a family of 2 girls and 1 boy. Shortly after birth she was baptized into the Christian faith at the Lutheran church in Eleva. She went to school in Eleva until the family moved to Eau Claire when she was 15. She graduated from North High School. She was confirmed in the Christian Faith and later as an adult took Bible studies and joined Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire and for the remainder of her earthly pilgrimage was a member of the Church of the Lutheran Confession.
Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is a suitable partner for him.”
In 1968 Roxanne married Steven Clements and was blessed with two sons Troy and Jason. The marriage ended in divorce.
On June 25, 1989 she married Pastor David Fuerstenau during a worship service at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sister Lakes, Michigan. She partnered with Dave in the ministry of the Gospel, first in Faulkton and Ipswich, South Dakota and then in 2000 in Ketchikan, Alaska. She held up the prophet’s hands and served in the kingdom as a faithful pastor’s wife, a Sunday School Teacher and by bringing others to church.
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or do anything else, do everything to the glory of God.
God gave Roxanne the special gift of being able to help people, especially with the health care of the elderly and disabled. She worked for a number of years as a psychiatric aide at the old Health Care Center, now Dove West. In Faulkton, she was known and respected for her excellent work in the activities department of the local nursing home and in Ketchikan for her caring work with the developmentally disabled. She took a special interest in engaging young babies, especially in her later years.
Roxanne was also blessed by God with a kind and caring heart and her own special brand of humor. She enjoyed taking pictures, especially of churches, cemeteries, and historical markers. She was a good writer, as evidenced by the family newsletter that she wrote. She was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and loved animals especially cows and dogs, and enjoyed her VW bug.
Isaiah 16:4 Until your old age, I am he, and until you have gray hair, I myself will hold you up. I myself made you, and I myself will lift you up. I myself will hold you up, and I will rescue you.
In 2016 Roxanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, an affliction that would complicate the rest of her years. When Dave retired from the active pastoral ministry in 2021, the Fuerstenaus moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The health problems that had appeared in Alaska soon grew worse. Roxanne had undergone a couple of major surgeries and the effects of Alzheimer’s now became a daily challenge. The support of Dave and his family allowed her to stay at home. As her health failed, she went briefly on hospice care before the Lord rescued her and gave her the gift of eternal life. Her earthly journey ended on June 9 th at 75 years, 5 months, and 20 days when the Lord took her soul to heaven. Her body was cremated and awaits the Day of the Resurrection.
Roxanne was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Daniel Gordon, her brother-in-law Toby Cleasby, and her sister-in-law Liz Heisel.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish. Do you believe this?”
Still in the time of grace to believe in the Lord of life are:
Her husband, Dave of Eau Claire
her son Troy of Mondovi
her son Jason and Tara of Sun Prairie
her sister Toni Cleasby of Gilmanton and her children Derek Olson, Sheila Olson, Jennifer Click, Rachel Leidy (Caleb), Levy Cleasby (Paige); and Toni’s 10 grandchildren.
her sister-in-law Marie Gordon of Elk Mound and her son Christopher (Jenny) and his 2 daughters
her sister-in-law Juanita Maurice of Altoona and her family
her brother-in-law Harley Fuerstenau of Chippewa Falls and his family
her best friend, Carolyn Flanders of Mondovi
and a number of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Revelation 2:10b [Jesus said] “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
A Victory Service will be held on Saturday, July 13, at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2015 N. Hastings Way, Eau Claire. The service will be at 1:00 p.m. with visitation starting at noon and a light luncheon after the service. In view of Roxanne’s love for children, the family suggests memorials may be given to the church for “EduK8” (short for Education K-8 th grade), a fund that is used to provide Christian education around the world.
Roxanne was born December 20, 1948 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She was a special creation of God given to John Gordon and his wife Dagmar (nee) Munson and was the oldest in a family of 2 girls and 1 boy. Shortly after birth she was baptized into the Christian faith at the Lutheran church in Eleva. She went to school in Eleva until the family moved to Eau Claire when she was 15. She graduated from North High School. She was confirmed in the Christian Faith and later as an adult took Bible studies and joined Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire and for the remainder of her earthly pilgrimage was a member of the Church of the Lutheran Confession.
Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is a suitable partner for him.”
In 1968 Roxanne married Steven Clements and was blessed with two sons Troy and Jason. The marriage ended in divorce.
On June 25, 1989 she married Pastor David Fuerstenau during a worship service at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sister Lakes, Michigan. She partnered with Dave in the ministry of the Gospel, first in Faulkton and Ipswich, South Dakota and then in 2000 in Ketchikan, Alaska. She held up the prophet’s hands and served in the kingdom as a faithful pastor’s wife, a Sunday School Teacher and by bringing others to church.
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or do anything else, do everything to the glory of God.
God gave Roxanne the special gift of being able to help people, especially with the health care of the elderly and disabled. She worked for a number of years as a psychiatric aide at the old Health Care Center, now Dove West. In Faulkton, she was known and respected for her excellent work in the activities department of the local nursing home and in Ketchikan for her caring work with the developmentally disabled. She took a special interest in engaging young babies, especially in her later years.
Roxanne was also blessed by God with a kind and caring heart and her own special brand of humor. She enjoyed taking pictures, especially of churches, cemeteries, and historical markers. She was a good writer, as evidenced by the family newsletter that she wrote. She was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and loved animals especially cows and dogs, and enjoyed her VW bug.
Isaiah 16:4 Until your old age, I am he, and until you have gray hair, I myself will hold you up. I myself made you, and I myself will lift you up. I myself will hold you up, and I will rescue you.
In 2016 Roxanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, an affliction that would complicate the rest of her years. When Dave retired from the active pastoral ministry in 2021, the Fuerstenaus moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The health problems that had appeared in Alaska soon grew worse. Roxanne had undergone a couple of major surgeries and the effects of Alzheimer’s now became a daily challenge. The support of Dave and his family allowed her to stay at home. As her health failed, she went briefly on hospice care before the Lord rescued her and gave her the gift of eternal life. Her earthly journey ended on June 9 th at 75 years, 5 months, and 20 days when the Lord took her soul to heaven. Her body was cremated and awaits the Day of the Resurrection.
Roxanne was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Daniel Gordon, her brother-in-law Toby Cleasby, and her sister-in-law Liz Heisel.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish. Do you believe this?”
Still in the time of grace to believe in the Lord of life are:
Her husband, Dave of Eau Claire
her son Troy of Mondovi
her son Jason and Tara of Sun Prairie
her sister Toni Cleasby of Gilmanton and her children Derek Olson, Sheila Olson, Jennifer Click, Rachel Leidy (Caleb), Levy Cleasby (Paige); and Toni’s 10 grandchildren.
her sister-in-law Marie Gordon of Elk Mound and her son Christopher (Jenny) and his 2 daughters
her sister-in-law Juanita Maurice of Altoona and her family
her brother-in-law Harley Fuerstenau of Chippewa Falls and his family
her best friend, Carolyn Flanders of Mondovi
and a number of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Revelation 2:10b [Jesus said] “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
A Victory Service will be held on Saturday, July 13, at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2015 N. Hastings Way, Eau Claire. The service will be at 1:00 p.m. with visitation starting at noon and a light luncheon after the service. In view of Roxanne’s love for children, the family suggests memorials may be given to the church for “EduK8” (short for Education K-8 th grade), a fund that is used to provide Christian education around the world.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roxanne Fuerstenau, please visit our flower store.
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