Rev. Kermit Marvin Roisen
April 08, 2012
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Pastor Kermit M. Roisen, 86, Des Moines, IA, went home to be with the Lord, April 8, 2012. Kermit, born October 18, 1925 in Albert Lea, MN was the oldest of four children born to Olaf and Alma Roisen, Norwegian immigrants.
Kermit lived in Emmons, MN area until 1944 when he enlisted into the Navy. He graduated in 1942, at age 16. After graduation, he worked as a farm hand while waiting to turn 18 so he could join the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Emmons Lutheran Church until 1968 when he returned from the mission field and took a pastoral position and transferred his membership to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Millard, NE.
Kermit served in the Navy during WWII on the USS Curtiss as an aircraft mechanic and a non-commissioned Petty Officer. He partook in the Battle of Okinawa and then served in Shanghai, China as part of the liberation forces. It was during this time that Kermit experienced what he called a “distinct and verbal” calling from the Lord to go and serve the Lord as a pastor. January 27, 1946 Kermit was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy.
Once home he enrolled at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN (1946-1950) where he met and later married Marian Ruth Miller (June 6, 1948). Upon his graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Latin and Greek, Kermit enrolled at Luther Theological Seminary in St Paul, MN where he received his Masters of Theology Degree in 1953. He was then ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church and was commissioned to go to Madagascar as a missionary in June 1953.
His wife of 64 years Marian and their six children survive him. Paul (Anna) Roisen of Sioux City, IA; Timothy (Nancy) Roisen of Virginia Beach, VA; Mark (Debbie) Roisen of Ann Arbor, MI; Elisabeth (Alan) Schmidt of Wichita, KS; Rebecca (Pio) Utu of Steamboat Springs, CO; Miriam (Doug) Obman of Storm Lake, IA. Also surviving him are his sister, Margaret (Glenn) Bendickson of Lonsdale, MN; and his brother Orrion (Sandra) Roisen of Albert Lea, MN 15 grandchildren and 11 great grand children. Kermit was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Marjorie, who died in infancy, and one grandson, Benjamin Wood.
During his career as a pastor he served as a missionary in Madagascar from 1953-1968, St Paul Lutheran in Omaha, Nebraska (1968-1978); Little Sioux Lutheran Church, Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp Milford, IA, and Bethany Lutheran in Spencer, IA 1978-1984; Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, IA 1984-2003.
Memorial Celebration, Sunday April 22, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 3900 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, IA. Interment will be a private ceremony at the Emmons Cemetery in Emmons, MN
Memorials contributions will be used to fund continuing mission work in Madagascar. Roisen Family, c/o Paul Roisen, 4420 3rd Ave., Sioux City, IA 51106, 712-301-2817(c)
Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Philip Froiland
05/02/2012
Kermit was a classmate of mine at St. Olaf College and although we were not close friends, those of us in the class of '50 keep track of each other and are concerned about every member of the class. I also spent years of ministry in Ames when Kermit was in Clear Lake. He was a loyal and devoted servant of our Lord. Blessed be his memory!
Gaye Scott
04/18/2012
Thanks for the memories, Kermit! I had the privilege of working with Pastor Kermit from the time he came to CL in 1984 until his retirement in 2003, and then after that with my Senior Ministries Team and the Alzheimer's Support Group K & Marian started. I remember doing the newsletter years ago on a typewriter, with a certain number of lines down and spaces across available. Kermit would come to me with a long article, and say, "Now if you squeeze these 2 letters together on the last 2 lines, and use Elite instead of Pica (typing talk!), you should be able to make it all fit in that front-page column." And thanks, Kermit, for lunch out when you had a "Buy One, Get One Free" coupon. Thanks also for the practical jokes! But most of all, thanks for being the one person we could count on to deal with a difficult person or situation at the church. Kermit had a big heart, and never said no. "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Pastor Keith & Ginny Tomlinson
04/11/2012
To Marian and all of Kermit's family -
We were saddened to receive the news of Kermit's death. But what a grand day for it to occur. I've always said that if I could plan my own death, I would want it to be on Easter Sunday when all the Christian world is echoing with the great hymns and alleluia's celebrating Jesus resurrection and his promise that because he lives, we too shall live.
It was a privilege for me to share in the ministry with Kermit for many years at Zion, Clear Lake during the 1980's. Technically, I was the senior pastor, but Kermit was "senior" is so many ways - least of all age. He was senior in terms of wisdom, faithfulness, clarity of Christian witness, devotion to caring for people, etc. etc.
I had last seen Kermit and Marian at the Opportunity Village Annual Meeting in October, 2008. We had a short but nice visit. I know that these last years had been difficult for both Kermit and Marian, but I know that they surely knew the caring love of God guiding and supporting them.
We extend our sympathy to you and pray that God's peace and strength will surround you and strengthen you in the days ahead. For Kermit's life we say, THANKS BE TO GOD!
Randy Reid
04/10/2012
So sorry to hear that my favorite minister has gone on before us. His humor, Devine leadership and sincere Love for others will be deeply missed. Sinceerest Sympathy to Marion and his family.
Randy Reid,Clear Lake
Pat Hoyt
04/10/2012
Dear Marian and family, I am so sad to hear of Kermit's death! I know that he had not been well since leaving Clear Lake. I always enjoyed our visits and he was so good about visitation to my mother-in law. She always had to feed him.
I have missed the both of you since you left C.L.! We got together weekly for a while. I pray that you are doing well! I also pray that this time of sadness will be filled with wonderful memories. I know that Kermit is where he would want to be...in the arms of the Lord with no Parkinson's. Love in Christ, Pat Hoyt
Rev. Lowell R. Hennigs
04/10/2012
Pastor Roisen was my gracious and loving mentor during the years when I served Galilean Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. He was the first one to greet me when I moved in to my office, even though he was on the staff of the "competitor" church down the road.
He offered to have coffee with me once or twice a month, and I took him up on the offer. We met at the coffee shop at the airport (one of his favorite places) and discussed ministry, life and the Bible. He helped make me the pastor I am now. I will always be grateful for his care, his counsel and his humble friendship.
I am honored to serve as the interim senior pastor at St. Paul's on Millard Avenue here in Omaha--one of the places where Kermit served. He is remembered here with love and appreciation as a faithful servant of our Lord and His Church. It is so fitting that our brother in Christ should enter the New Life on Easter Sunday.
Pastor Kermit Roisen loved our Lord and now rests in his gracious arms. It was my honor to know Kermit and to call him friend and colleague. May God bless you all with the comfort of Resurrection good news in Christ.
Al and Sharon Petersen
04/10/2012
Marion and family
Just heard of your loss, Kermit was a VFW brother and a great friend during and will be missed by many here in Clear Lake.
God bless and all our love.
Pete and Sharon