Jane Margaret (Kalmes Walch) Roth

Jane M. Roth (nee Kalmes, Walch) was an equally independent woman and wonderful mother. Studious herself, Jane took seriously her role to teach her children well, and she used her own life as an example. She was determined that they realize their goals and not take NO for an answer--a trait she herself practiced. She was stern but not scary, opinionated but not inflexible. As an adventurer and pioneer, Jane knew what she wanted to accomplish, and she was skilled enough to make it happen. She was courageous of heart and confident in spirit.Jane Margaret was born March 23, 1940 to Helen (Gengler) and Edward Kalmes of Rollingstone, Minnesota. Growing up on the family farm in Rupprechts Valley near Rollingstone, Jane had an ideal childhood. She didn't mind doing chores because she loved to be around her dad an all the farm animals. She had a knack for sewing doll clothes, and she learned to cross-stitch, knit and crochet. Perhaps not so ideal was the trouble she got into with her brother Jim, but that didn't diminish the fun she had as an energetic farm girl.Jane was also enthusiastic about learning. She started kindergarten at age four, a full year ahead of normal, and applied herself to her studies throughout her education. She attended Holy Trinity School for all 12 years and graduated Valedictorian of the class of 1957.Eager to continue her education, Jane went to Winona Secretarial School to earn a Medical Secretary degree. She received a scholarship for nurses training at St. Mary's, and it was her dream to become a nurse so that she could pay her way through college and then pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. However, she did not pass her physical at that time and returned home. Jane took a job as a waitress at The Oaks in Minnesota City before moving on to train as a medical secretary. Her career took off when she was offered a position at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to work for Dr. Adson. She served as medical secretary from 1959-1969 and also assisted doctors in surgery. Her intelligence and determination got her where she wanted to be.Already in high school, Jane had met Thomas F. Walch through his cousin Barb. He was from Altura, Minnesota, where the two settled after their marriage on May 13, 1961. Their lives were enriched by the births of their daughters Patrice, born in 1962, and Paula in 1966. Jane loved being a mother as well as a professional, and she attended to their needs, including sewing some of their clothes. She was a multi-tasking mother. While the girls were growing up, she also worked as a secretary at Hubbard Milling Company in Altura, a waitress at Red's Roost and the bookkeeper at Walch Farm Service. Eventually she became the manager under sad circumstances. Tom died in February 1978.With the support of her loving daughters, Jane kept moving forward. She insisted on taking the girls for a two week vacation every summer. When they had families of their own, Jane traveled with her daughters and their families. Many memories were formed over the years:One time, Jane was driving with her niece Jeni, and they came close to having an accident. Jenny yelled, "Aunt Jane, what do we do?" Jane said "Pray". Well, they made it through safely, but often Jane could be seen mouthing words while driving. She was saying the Rosary.On a trip to Hawaii, to see her sister Janet, Jane's niece Michelle--who looked a lot like Jane's own daughter Paula--was misbehaving. Jane yelled and gave her a swat on the butt. That incident, as remembered, has continued to create smiles and much laughter thru the years. Jane was always eager to travel. She was fortunate enough to visit family and friends in parts of the world that most people only experience in books!It was on a trip to Mt. Rushmore that Jane took her mom to see that wonder of the world. Since it was a long walk from the parking lot to the overlook, Jane wanted to seat her mother in a wheelchair. Despite much coaxing, her mother refused until she was assured that her granddaughter Patrice would push.Jane's grandson Zach remembers a time when the family was dining at Country Kitchen and Jane could not finish her steak. She had asked for a doggie bag, but before it came, Zach took her steak, put it on his plate and proceeded to eat it saying, "That's too good for your dog Maddy Poo". In truth, nothing was too good for Jane's dogs and cats.In time, Jane remarried. Jacque E. Roth was the widower of Tom Walch's sister Jenny, and he and Jane married in October of 1987 in Alaska. The couple resided in Anchorage in the summers and the wintered in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico until 1998, when they changed their snowbird destination to Arizona.No matter where she lived, Jane ALWAYS cheered for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, and Wild. She was also a fan of golf--watching it and playing it whether casually or competitively. She thrilled to play a good card game, particularly Bridge or 500, and she spent many-a day in the hospital improving her game of Hands and Feet. Truth be told, Jane was competitive in everything; cards, Scrabble, golf, even conversation.Among her other recreational pleasures, Jane watched Sports Center and CNN. She spent an hour a day with Alex Tribec in a challenging round of Jeopardy and with Pat Sajack and the Wheel of Fortune!! No wonder she liked doing the daily crossword puzzles, especially in the New York Times. She was experienced enough to work them in ink!Jane also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, quilting and a good brandy Manhattan. She tended beautiful flower beds and was particularly fond of sunflowers and dahlias. She was an avid reader, making it her personal goal to read a book a week.After Jacque's death in November of 2004, Jane became a full time Arizona resident in 2005. Her failing health brought her to the Mayo Clinic in 2011, and she came home permanently to be with her family and friends in Minnesota.Jane passed away peacefully in her daughter's home in Cannon Falls, MN on Thursday August 14, 2014. She spent the last years of her life with daily rituals of snuggling the family cats and dogs, watching and feeding the birds (oranges and Orioles were a special treat). Her beloved Cardinals and Blue Jays (NOT the baseball teams!) were always a favorite at the feeders.Jane is survived and very much loved by her daughters Patrice (Jay) Thesing of Cannon Falls, and Paula (Rodney) Nelson of Lewiston. Her five grandsons Aaron (Katie)Thesing, Andrew Thesing, Adam Thesing of Cannon Falls, Sean Nelson and Zach Nelson of Lewiston. Step-daughters Cheryl (Jesse) Anderson of Sheridan,OR, Mary Jo (Mitch) Chandler of Pullman, WA, Step-sons Jason, Colin, and Kurt Roth all of Anchorage,AK. Step-daughters-in-law Gayle (Jeff) Roth, Jeanne (Scott) Roth-Huff, Loretta (Kent) Roth all of Anchorage, AK, Sisters Joan (Leigh) Hartert of Wabasha, Mn, and Jean (Mike) Kertzman on Winona, MN. Sisters-in-Law Joan (Donald) Simon, Harrisonburg, VA, Katie (Dick) Kreutter, Deephaven, MN, and Rita (Jim) Suchomel, Hopkins, MN, and Louise (James) Kalmes, Rollingstone, MN. She is also survived by Jacques 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.Jane was preceded in death by both of her parents, Helen and Edward Kalmes, her younger brother Jim Kalmes and her younger sister Janet (Dr. John) Ries, an infant son Patrick Michael Walch, her husband Tom Walch and her husband Jacque Roth, three step-sons Jeff Roth, Scott Roth, and Kent Roth, two step grandchildren Jenny Lynn Anderson (Jesse and Cheryl Anderson), and Sean Michael Roth (Colin and Nancy Roth).A Funeral Mass will be 11AM Wednesday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Rollingstone with the Reverend William Kulas officiating. She will be buried in St. Mary's Cemetery at Oak Ridge. Friends may call at Holy Trinity Catholic Church from 5-8 PM Tuesday and one hour before services on Wednesday. Please share a memory of Jane with her family, view her video tribute and read her complete life story at www.hofffuneral.com.Because of Jane's love of animals and medicine, the family requests memorials and donations to be made to your local Humane Society or the Cannon Falls Hospital. Jane's family also thanks all their friends and family, the staff at the Mayo Clinic particularly Dr. Jeremy Clain for his Pulmonary care and passionate heart, the staff of all of the ER's, ICU's, and her family at Domitilla 6 at St. Mary's Hospital. Drs. Turna, Nordahl, Chestnut, Stricker, and Johnston-Flanders at the Cannon Falls Hospital, her "thumpers" Rosemary and Kurt, the staff at the Cannon Falls Hospital, and the compassionate ambulance team of Cannon Falls that came to her rescue on a monthly basis! "God bless all of you, and know you made her life so much better. God Bless!"Hoff Celebration of Life Center in Goodview/Winona is assisting the family with arrangements.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/516992