Margaret Rozelle's Obituary
Margarethe Johanna Henkel Rozelle“Gretel” “Maggy” “Mimi”Margaret “Maggy” Rozelle passed away peacefully at Ave Maria Home on Friday, July 7, 2017, where she had made many lasting friendships. She was born July 20, 1918, in Wiesbaden, Germany. In July of 1930, at the age of 12, she and her brother, Rudy Henkel, came to America on the USS Bremen to reunite with her father, Wiegand Henkel. He had come to America 4 years earlier and was residing in Baltimore, MD.Margaret graduated from Nursing School at South Baltimore General Hospital. She completed a post graduate course in Communicable diseases at Sydenham Hospital, a teaching institution for Medical and Nursing students at Johns Hopkins University. This is where she taught a communicable disease course for 4 years. During World War II she worked at the Marine Hospital in Baltimore, MD.In December, 1943, she was introduced to a handsome US Army Staff Sargent, R.C. “Rozy” Rozelle, who was being treated for Meningitis. They married March 5, 1944. They were married for almost 67 years until his death on January 23, 2011.The Rozelle’s moved to Memphis in 1949. She became a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in October of 1949. She served as past President of Immanuel Altar Guild and a member of Lutheran Women Missionary League. The old saying at church was “if the doors were open she was there“. She even had her own key…She really enjoyed her “Church Family” and missed not being part of that in her later years.In Memphis she went to work as Assistant Nursing Supervisor at John Gaston Hospital from 1954 to 1961. She then moved on to Nursing Supervisor at Toby Memorial Children’s Hospital. After resigning from Toby Memorial she volunteered at Richland Jr. High School and White Station High School as a School Nurse. On February 1, 1970, she went to work for Shelby County Health Department as a District Nurse. She truly made a difference in the many lives she cared for while at the Health Department. She finally retired September 9, 1991.Maggy and Rozy loved to travel, and enjoyed visiting several of their friends and family.Margaret leaves 2 Daughters, Florence (and Larry) Beard of Cypress, TX and Frances Welborn (and Mike Westbrook) of Bartlett, TN. 4 Grandchildren, Scott (and Lisa) Beard, Beth (and Amir) Ashy of TX, Melissa Welborn of Bartlett and John (and Megan) Welborn of Lakeland, TN. 7 Great Grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew Beard, Brandon, Tyler, and Kyle Ashy, and Jayden and Callaway Welborn.She was fondly known as “Maggy” by her many friends she had made throughout her life..“Mimi” Rozelle will forever be in our hearts…Mimi had requested any Memorials be made to Immanuel Lutheran School STEMM Lab or Ave Maria Home. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 14 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. with the memorial service to follow immediately at 11:30 a.m. All services will be held in the Rotunda of the Mausoleum in Memorial Park Cemetery.
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