Obituary of Rosa Simington

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 11:00am at Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford. Burial will be at Little Sioux Lutheran Church in Milford. Visitation will be on Friday, May 30th from 3:00-6:00pm at Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Rosa's name to Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church, Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp or the Milford Nursing Center. On Tuesday, May 27, 2014, Rosa was called to her eternal mansion prepared by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Rosalee Jane Simington was born April 5, 1943, the daughter of Peter H. and Katharina (Enns) Heppner in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Rosa was raised and educated in Mountain Lake, and Warroad, Minnesota, graduating from Warroad High School. Rosa then moved to Oklahoma City, OK, where she served under-privileged children for a year. Determined to obtain her college education, Rosa paid her way by working as a seamstress at Dayton's in Minneapolis among other jobs. In 1970, after ten years of classes and work, she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in elementary education. Rosa then worked as a kindergarten teacher in the St. Paul, MN. Rosa was united in marriage to Joseph K. Simington on April 29, 1972 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, MN. The couple made their home in the Twin Cities until moving to Milford in 1978. Rosa operated Young Achievers Christian Preschool for many years in the Lakes Area. Later, her passion for people and the gospel, guided her to serve as Outreach Coordinator at First Lutheran Church and then Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church. Her love also poured into the hearts of sixteen foster children that she and Joe welcomed into their home over the course of many years. In her spare time, Rosa loved antiques. Uncovering garage sale treasures that could be re-sold in one of her area antique booths brought her much delight! Most evenings Rosa could be found spending time with God. The notes written in her Bible and many journals give insight into the rich prayer life she enjoyed. Her love of Jesus was the center of her life. Rosa is survived by her husband, Joe; children, Thanh Van Dinh (Dung, pronounced "Yhum") and their children, Joseph and Marion, Heather Cook (Sam) and J Chad Simington (TJ) and their children, Caleb, Avery, Olivia and Selah; siblings, Katherine Atneosen (Curtis), Beverly Enns, Marilynn Janzen, Pamela Haug (Dennis), John Heppner (Patricia), Dan Heppner (Beverly), Steven Heppner (Joan) and Sara Nell Jelley (Clark); nephews, nieces, other family and a multitude of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Katharina Heppner.