ROXANNE G. TORGERSON
ROXANNE G. TORGERSON
Roxanne Glynis Torgerson, 72, of Black River Falls, WI, died Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in her home under the compassionate and professional care of St. Croix Hospice.
She was born March 26, 1951, to Glen and Ardeth (Fagerness) Gilbertson in Whitehall, WI.
Her family lived in the Squaw Creek area of the town of Albion, Jackson County. During this time period, her beloved uncle, Victor Gilbertson, introduced her to the nurturing and love of horses.
The family moved into Black River Falls, and Roxanne graduated from high school in 1969. When she was a junior, there was a senior, Chuck Torgerson, who could not take his eyes off of her. Fortunately, she reciprocated, and they shared a locker together, totally against administrative policy. At this time, naive Chuck should have realized this woman was not going to be intimidated, and she was going to do things her way. After high school, and as their paths diverged, a spark still lingered.
Roxanne graduated from Western Wisconsin Tech in La Crosse, WI, with an associate degree in nursing.
She became an LPN, and proudly worked as a geriatric LPN for over 40 years primarily working at the Family Heritage Nursing Home in Black River Falls. She was not an easy person to work for. She had been mentored by a number of older nurses who demanded a strong work ethic, and she continued this philosophy as a charge nurse. There was only one way to do the job...the right way. Patient care was her ultimate goal.
After both Roxanne and Chuck returned to Black River Falls, the lingering spark rekindled. After an ultimatum from Roxanne, they were married April 26, 1975, and lived their entire married lives in Black River Falls.
Roxanne was a girls basketball and softball mom and a boys hockey mom.
She was a past member of the Snow Creek Homemakers and the ELCW. She loved to travel with her girlfriends. They traveled to Ecuador, Vietnam, Ireland and numerous destinations in the U.S. Her favorite trip by far was to Puerta Aventuras, Mexico, where they typically stayed for the month of April.
She loved the beautiful Caribbean and the humble native residents. She couldn’t wait to see all of the many friends they had made, even the crazy Canucks.
Surviving Roxanne are her husband, Chuck; one daughter, Shanna Rae (Jen); one son, Nathan; fraternal twin granddaughters, Margaux Ellen and Dagny Jules; one sister, Glenda (Jeffrey) Smith; a special aunt (older sister) Sharon (Allen) McVey; aunt Carol Witzeling; brother-in-law Jon (Barbara) Torgerson; three nephews, Quenten (Jen) Brown, Christopher and Eric (Kinsley) Torgerson; an adopted daughter, Chanteil (Will), and numerous cousins and great- nieces and nephews. Our family’s beloved and constant companion of 13 years, Gunnar, who provided Roxanne with daily comfort. “A house without a German Shorthair
Pointer is not a home.”
She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Ardeth Gilbertson; aunts and uncles, Victor (Ethel), Arnold (Betty) and Pete (Delores) Gilbertson, Merton (Beverly) and Stan Fagerness and Orva (Jerry) Pfeiffer.
Private family graveside funeral services will be at Riverside Cemetery in Black River Falls.
Public visitation will be at Torgerson’s Funeral Home, 408 N. Water St, Black River Falls, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, from 2-4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation, in Roxanne’s name, to the charity of your choice.
Address: C.E. Torgerson, PO Box 576, Black River Falls, WI 54615.