Rose Ann (Roxanne) Williams
Rose Ann (Roxanne) Williams died August 28, 2025 at the age of 89. A Memorial Service will be held at 12 p.m. Thursday, September 18 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester, MN.
A life well-lived, Roxanne was born in 1936 on a farm in southeast Iowa to Henry and Gertrude Larson. One of 14 children, she grew up surrounded by the energy and closeness of a large family, with six sisters and seven brothers.
At age 18, Roxanne moved to Rochester, MN, with her sister, Alice, to begin a new chapter. She soon found work at Macy’s department store, where her eye for fashion and business led her to become a clothing buyer. Her work brought her to New York City annually, selecting items for the store and even modeling for Macy’s herself - a role she filled with elegance and grace.
After six years at Macy’s, Roxanne left her career to follow her heart, relocating with her beloved husband, Bart, to South Dakota. It was there that she embraced motherhood and family life with joy and dedication. Over the years, their growing family moved often with Bart’s career, living in several cities across California, then in Show Low, AZ, and eventually settling in Wabasha, MN.
Through these transitions, Roxanne nurtured her creative spirit and became a gifted, self-taught artist. Her work was featured in numerous exhibitions and sold to collectors and admirers. For Roxanne, painting was more than a hobby - it was a way to lose herself in the beauty of the moment.
After the passing of her husband, Bart, in 2002, Roxanne moved to Pine Island, MN, to be closer to her son, Jeff, and his family. She became a loving and devoted grandmother, regularly helping with her grandchildren and cheering them on at sporting events - always their biggest fan. Roxanne continued to enjoy gardening and cooking until her health began to decline.
In her later years, Roxanne faced macular degeneration, which gradually limited her vision, as well as COPD, which progressed over time and ultimately claimed her life. Through it all, she remained resilient, kind, and deeply loved by those who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bart; her brothers, Henry, Herbert, Ralph, Walter, and Lowell; and her sisters, Alice, Karen, and Genevieve.
Roxanne is survived by her children: Barton Jeffry (Susan) Williams and Lisa Williams; her grandchildren: Savannah (Bradley) Hammel, Jack (Jessica) Williams, and Lucas Williams; and her great-grandchildren: Laikyn, Zander, and Bria Hammel.
She is also survived by her siblings: Anna Marie (Tony) Danaher of Casper, WY, Kathleen Kruse of Dorchester, Linda Eiken of Spring Grove, MN, and Kenneth (Sharon) Larson of Dorchester.
Roxanne will be remembered for her elegance, creativity, warmth, and unwavering devotion to her family. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and beauty that will continue to inspire those who knew her.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.
