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Rosalyn Borchers 1943-2018
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Rosalyn Borchers 1943-2018

ELLINWOOD — Rosalyn Borchers, 75, was sainted into heaven on September 27, 2018. Born in Great Bend, Kans. on April 3, 1943, she was the first of three children born to Charles and LaVon (Soeken) Sessler. 

Rosalyn, known to many as “Aunt Rosie”, was a proud 1961 graduate of Ellinwood Rural High School. She attended St. John Lutheran Junior College in Winfield, Kans. She received a degree in Elementary Deaf Education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. Rosie later earned a Master’s degree in Reading from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. She began her teaching career in Great Bend before moving to Carrollton, Mo. She taught 18 years in Norborne, Mo., then 12 years in Carrollton. After retiring in 1997, she taught an additional five years at a Lutheran school in Alma, Mo.. Aunt Rosie then moved back to central Kansas and worked as a teacher’s assistant in the Central Kansas Head Start program. 

She married Arthur Borchers, Jr. in 1966, and they later divorced. Sharing her faith with others was an important part of her life, inspiring her friends and family. Rosie enjoyed mission trips to Poland, Canada, India, and Haiti. She was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, and enjoyed volunteering in numerous organizations. Her hobbies included reading to children, sewing, tatting, craft projects, and playing the piano and her bowed psaltery. 

Survivors include brother, Marvin (Karen) Sessler; brother-in-law, Michael (Susie) Brauer; nieces and nephews, Kimberly (Mike) Roseland, Alan (Kara) Brauer, Christene (Derek) Woodward, Megan (Frank) Rome, and Brandon Sessler (Ed). She cherished her 11 “rosebuds” (great-nieces and nephews) Allison, Emily, and Ben Roseland; Samuel, Heidi and Joseph Brauer; Lauren, Lydia and Brady Woodward; Malorie and Madelyn Rome.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Jolene Brauer. 

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 5, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood with Rev. Thomas Thierfelder officiating. Burial will follow at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood. Visitation will be Thursday, October 4 from 1-7 p.m. with family present from 6-7. Memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church New Building Fund, CCCS/Lead-a-child, or Ellinwood Hospital Auxiliary in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, Kans., 67526. 


Funeral arrangements provided by 

Minnis Chapel

PO Box 246

Ellinwood, KS 67526

The Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018