Rosa Beth Schepel

ROSA BETH SCHEPEL was born on October 29, 1959 to Ernest and Anna (Vander Esch) Van Driessen in Hawarden, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm near Lebanon, Iowa with fond memories of playing with the farm cats and dog, piano lessons, helping her mom cook, clean, sew and can apples. She attended school through the eighth grade at Lebanon Christian School and then graduated from Western Christian High School in 1977. She completed Stewarts School of Hairstyling in 1978. While in Sioux Falls, she met a young man named Gary Schepel who fell in love with Rosa at first sight. The couple was united in marriage on June 6, 1979 at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa. The couple lived in Rock Valley, Iowa where Rosa began working as a hairstylist. The young family moved to Luverne in 1989 where Rosa continued to style hair. In 2007, they moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to be closer to Gary’s work and Rosa decided it was time for a career change. She took an office position at the Orthopedic Institute. She continued this job until being offered another office position at Van Hofwegen Dental in 2015 where she worked until her declining health made retirement necessary in June of 2017. On Sunday, November 3, 2019 while under hospice care in Sioux Falls, Rosa went to be her Lord at the age of 60 years and four days.

Rosa was attending Faith Baptist West in Sioux Falls. She spent many years as an organist with the Christian Reformed Church and led choir at the Luverne Christian Reformed Church. She loved to play the piano and organ and minister through her music. Throughout her life, Rosa prioritized being a part of small group and ladies bible studies. She was passionate about living a life of faith and serving others. Rosa enjoyed reading, cooking, baking and sharing with others. Many were blessed by Rosa’s seamstress skills, knitting abilities and creativity. She sewed many clothes and completed many craft projects. She also enjoyed heading out on vacations and seeing God’s wonderful creation. Rosa’s greatest love was her devoted husband, Gary. She was so grateful for their shared life and their children and grandchildren. She enjoyed watching her children’s activities when they were young and welcoming her children’s friends into their home (treats were readily available), and later in life loved to cheer on her grandchildren when possible. Her grandchildren’s smiles always brightened her days. She was so thankful for family and friends who stood by during the difficult trials of life. Rosa wanted all to know that God indeed is our strength in weakness and his mercies are new every morning.

Rosa is lovingly remembered by her husband of 40 years, Gary Schepel of Sioux Falls; children, Angila Nowka of Sioux Falls, Brent (Stacy) Schepel of Luverne, Steven Schepel (Samantha Headrick) of Flandreau, South Dakota; grandchildren, Michael and McKenzie Nowka, Madison and Cameryn Schepel and Hailieanne and Alyxandra Schepel; siblings, Erlene (Gordon) Johnson of Sioux City, Iowa, Mary Ann Zylstra of Edgerton, Minnesota, Delores (Garry) Zonnefeld of Sioux Center, Lois Hoogeveen of Sioux Falls and Charles (Nola) Van Driessen of Sioux Center; mother-in-law, Donna Schepel of Hull, Iowa; sister-in-law, Glenda (Kevin) Robbins of Omaha, Nebraska; and her bonus grandchildren, Carson and Kennedy Headrick. She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law, Alfred Schepel; and brothers-in-law, Henry Klarenbeek, Art Zylstra and James Hoogeveen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to be given to Luverne Christian School Society or McCrossan Boys Ranch.