Lorraine Rolfzen

Lorraine Elfrida Rolfzen, age 85, of Melrose died peacefully Wednesday, March 7, 2007 with her family at her side, at the Melrose Area Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 2007 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser officiating. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Melrose.

Friends may call Saturday at the church one hour prior to the service.

Lorraine was born October 17, 1921 in Elrosa to Peter and Rose (Watzke) Braun. She married Lambert "Fatz" Rolfzen on October 4, 1941 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Melrose. They moved to California in 1953. Lorraine dedicated most of her life to helping the elderly. She worked as a Physical Therapist, Restorative Care, and Activities Director at nursing homes. She was dearly loved not only by her family but those people of whose life she touched. After retirement Lorraine and Fatz moved back to Melrose, the area they loved. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary, American Legion Post 101 Auxiliary, and the Loyal Order of the Moose for over 50 years.

Survivors include her children, Cheryl Rose Rolfzen and partner, Sandy Jo Garner of Irvine, CA, Lambert Peter Rolfzen and wife, Martha of Omaha, NE, Thomas Donald Rolfzen of Lakebay, WA, and Paul Sylvester Rolfzen and wife, Alice of Melrose; seven grandchildren, Peter Lambert Rolfzen, Dawn Leann Rolfzen, and Shawn Christopher Rolfzen of Omaha, NE, Chantel Laree Rolfzen of Lakebay, WA, Michael Bjorn Rolfzen of St. Cloud, MN, Michelle Lorraine Stumbo of Kelso, WA, Mary Rose Rademacher of Albany, MN and Shon Meikle of Landers, WY; great grandchildren, Tabitha, Nickolas, Bailey, and Isabella of Omaha, NE, Alyssa Joy of Kelso, WA, Joseph and Vanessa of Lakebay, WA; sister, Irene Richter of Ely, MN; brothers, Ray Braun of Wyoming, Bil Braun of Ely, Jim Braun of Perham, and Al Braun of Frazee.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Rose Braun; husband, Lambert "Fatz" Rolfzen on May 9, 2006; brothers, Gerald, Anthony, Donald, Leander, Luverne "Butch", and Sylvester Braun; sister, Dorothy Gregor; and an infant brother.