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Rosanne Jordan

July 8, 1935 - May 24, 2019
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Monday, May 27, 2019
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Visitation

Tuesday, May 28, 2019
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Service

Tuesday, May 28, 2019
11:00 AM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Corewell Health Hospice
750 Fuller Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(866) 542-7945
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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A generous and compassionate woman, Rosanne Jordan devoted her life to serving others. She accomplished so many things of which to be proud, but her greatest source of pride and joy was found in her role as a wife and mother. She was an active member in the community and made many wonderful friendships over the years. Although she will be deeply missed, Rosanne leaves behind a wonderful collection of memories to be cherished forever.

Looking back on the 1930s, it is difficult to recall much of anything that wasn’t affected by the Great Depression. There were few jobs and a soaring unemployment rate that left countless American families without homes. Despite these tough times, Donald A. and Adelyn E. (Dyke) Turskey celebrated with great joy the arrival of their newborn baby girl, Rosanne on July 8, 1935, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As an only child, her birth brought much happiness and promise to the family home.

Growing up on Umatilla SE with a set of hardworking parents, Rosanne learned the value of a hard day’s work from a young age. Her father worked hard in the factory and her mother was a school teacher as well as a homemaker. Rosanne learned how to cook and to bake from the years she spent in the kitchen alongside her mother. At the tender age of twelve, Rosanne’s heart was already sure that she would one day marry her newfound sweetheart, Donald Jordan.

Graduating with the Class of 1953 from South High School, Rosanne set her dreams on the next phases of life. She and Don joined in marriage on October 14, 1955, by the justice of the peace in Elkhart, Indiana. The happy couple first settled in a small apartment on Wadsworth SE, then Jefferson St. SE before later moving to their home on Prospect Avenue. Together they welcomed four wonderful children; Pamela, Sally, Teresa, and Todd over the course of six years. Don provided a stable and comfortable home working for the railroad, a concrete company, and Reith Riley a paving company. Both she and Don had a strong desire to be active in their children’s lives and raise them with a strong foundation. Rosanne saw that her children attended Northwest Gospel Hall each Sunday for service. They also enjoyed spending quality time together picnicking at Riverside Park on the west side and Long Lake in Sparta. Family vacations typically included camping at Gun Lake, Fife Lake and one memorable was touring the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. There wasn’t anything they wouldn’t do for their children. She loved each of them unconditionally and wanted nothing but the best for them.

Rosanne was a woman of many special interests. She loved tending to her rose garden at their home on Arianna Street. Being outdoors and caring for the beautiful bushes brought her a sense of peace as well as accomplishment. Nearly since her childhood, she had worked at perfecting some of her delicious dishes in the kitchen. Known especially for her roast beef with potatoes and gravy, meatloaf, chicken and rice, cream of broccoli soup and rotisserie chicken, her family never went without a warm meal. She also loved to can pickled beets each year to savor throughout the winter months. Fashion was everything to Rosanne. A meticulous dresser, she was sure that literally, everything matched! Later in life her favorite items to purchase were clothes and shoes which she had plenty to choose from in her closet! She would always find the appropriate clothing to match the special holiday; Valentines Day, St. Patricks, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and several weeks before Christmas. We are sure she is in her Red, White & Blue for Memorial Day. Social and outgoing, Rosanne was on a bowling league at Paragon Lanes for many years. Both she and Don ran the Blind Bowling League, through Welcome Home For the Blind where they made many lasting friendships.

In 1981 she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis undergoing many surgeries and obstacles. She had a high tolerance for pain but never complained. She was determined nothing would slow her down.

In retirement, Rosanne and Don enjoyed sharing the next chapter in their lives together. They treasured trips to Las Vegas, bus trips to Minnesota, and the popular Branson, Missouri where they took in the sights and were certain to spend some of their time at the slot machines. When they were feeling lucky, they also enjoyed visiting many of the area casinos in Michigan over the years. Perhaps what they were most known for however were the years they spent at the Lexicon Club at all the dances, Sunday breakfast and enjoying Pulaski Day Weekend. Rosanne was known as “the ticket lady” for many years selling raffle tickets during Pulaski Weekend. She was always the top seller and was very proud to help support the club. They were beyond thrilled when in 2005 they were chosen as the Grand Marshalls for the Pulaski Days Parade, a special time they never forgot!

When grandchildren entered her life, Rosanne was over the moon! She loved to attend their special events. Nicknaming them all she had a real knack for getting to know them as individuals and keeping up with what was happening in their lives. Even during her years at Villa Maria Retirement Community Apartments, she enjoyed their visits and relished in the joy that remained in her heart until the next time they came to spend time with her. She made many friends at the apartment but was happy to be reunited with Don at Stonebridge Assisted Living after she suffered a stroke in October 2018. They both received loving care from the dedicated staff. Her family and grandkids continued visiting with her and took her to many special outings.

Described as selfless and supportive, Rosanne will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by the many special lives she touched over the years. May her loved ones never doubt the deep love she had for each and every one of them. Surely they will miss her warm and gentle ways as well as her sense of humor, yet may they be blessed to have shared in her beautiful journey and lean on the special memories they made over the years.

Rosanne Jordan, aged 83, of Grand Rapids, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019. Born on July 8, 1935, she was the only child of Donald and Adelyln (Dyke) Turskey. In 1955 she married the love and excitement of her life, Donald “DJ” Jordan who survives her. Also surviving are her children, Pamela (Jeff) Hobbs, Sally Christiansen, Teresa (Tim) Sobie, Todd (Mary) Jordan; grandchildren, Brandon Lundberg, Bryan Lundberg, Brent Lundberg, Jack (Ivy) Christiansen, Julie Christiansen, Melissa (Jim) Patyi, Tony (Jessica) Sobie, Jessica (Steve) Henderhan, Kaely (Kevin) Littleton, Travis Jordan and Rachel Jordan; 18 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Kenneth Jordan; dear friends, Maryann Rogers and Dora Schultz; several nieces, nephews, and friends. She was also preceded in death by her childhood friend, Joanne Palmer. Rosanne was a lifelong member of Neil Fonger Post Ladies Auxillary, where she ran Bingo for many years. She was also a member of the Lexicon Club Ladies Auxilliary. A service to celebrate Rosanne’s life will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 11:00 am, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the funeral home on Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, and on Tuesday from 10:00 am until the service begins at 11:00. Burial in Rosedale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Spectrum Health Hospice. To sign Rosanne’s guest book and to leave your own memory of her visit her web page at heritagelifestory.com

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