Margaret Rouchka

Margaret 'Mary' Rouchka age 89 of New Hampton died Monday, December 12, 2016, at New Hampton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 19, 2016, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton, with Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass. Ann Bennett will be the organist accompanying Mary Beth Kamrath as vocalist. Lector will be Paula Duff and presenting the offertory gifts will be Sandy Shekleton and Joan Kobliska. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Hampton with Jim Shekleton, Bill Shekleton, Ed Shekleton, Glen Benson, John Shekleton and Greg Shekleton as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 2016, at the Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 2:00 p.m. rosary and a 4:30 p.m. parish scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Monday. Margaret “Mary” Rouchka was born July 16, 1927, in New Hampton, IA, the only daughter to Greg and Irene (Boyle) Shekleton. She received her education at St. Joseph Grade School in New Hampton and was a 1945 graduate of the New Hampton High School. On November 15, 1949, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Hampton, she married Lester John Rouchka of Lourdes. Following their marriage, the couple lived near Lourdes raising their family of three girls and two boys. The couple moved to New Hampton in 1979. Mary had worked at the former Sara Lee Bakery for over 20 years. Lester died on June 18, 2004 at the age of 80. Mary later made her home at the Homestead in New Hampton and was just recently admitted to the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She loved her morning coffee with her friends at the Homestead and will be remembered by her family as an excellent cook, baker but mostly for her strong faith. Survivors include three daughters, Jean (Tom) McKnight of Chico, CA, Mary Kay Thomas of Portland, OR, Julie Rouchka of New Hampton; two sons, John (Sue) Rouchka of Stewartville, MN; James Rouchka of Mason City, IA; two grandchildren, Tom Rouchka and Brittany Oreste; three sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Shekleton, Margaret Shekleton, both of New Hampton, Marian Rouchka of Cresco. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, five brothers, Walter Shekleton, Jim Shekleton, Pat Shekleton, Jack Shekleton and Eugene Shekleton in infancy; four sisters-in-law, Margaret Shekleton, Rosella Shekleton, Mary Benson, Peggy Rocha; two brothers-in-law, Joseph Rouchka and Chester Rouchka.