Kathleen Evelyn Roan, 80, of Oak Park Heights, died Dec. 11, 2021. A beloved wife, mother and grandmother, she will be dearly missed. Kathy was born on Oct. 6, 1941, in St. Paul, to Uno and Marion Swanson. Growing up in Como Park, Kathy attended Tilden Elementary School and Murray High School. While in high school, Kathy met Tom. They married on June 21, 1963.
Kathy graduated from the University of Minnesota, majoring in home economics education. Kathy taught early childhood parenting classes and ESL at Independent School District 622 for many years.
Kathy was a kind, loving person whose family and faith mattered the most. She loved being a stay-at-home mother and taking care of her grandchildren. She proudly shared her Swedish heritage with her family. Kathy was an excellent baker, cook and seamstress.
She enjoyed travelling with her husband, especially to Hawaii and Mexico. She gracefully endured an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Her lovely smile and kind heart were with her to the very end.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Uno and Marion Swanson, and her sister-in-law Barb Swanson. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Tom; her children Cindy (David) Epland, Kristina (Don) Tonseth, Tom Roan (Nancy Bowser), and Carin (Jim) Erickson; seven grandchildren; her brother Bruce Swanson; and her sister Sonia (Ron) Churchill.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 29, at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi. Visitation begins one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to St. Andrew’s.
