The funeral service for Juliet "Julie" Roesch, 83, of Roscoe, was at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 5, 2021 at the UCC Church in Ipswich.  Pastor Tim Fugman led the service.  Burial was at Morningside Cemetery in Roscoe. 

Juliet Elizabeth Strader was born December 27, 1937 in Aberdeen, SD. She was the third of four daughters born to Jess and Ella Strader of Aberdeen. Her father was a high school teacher and superintendent and her mother a homemaker. Julie told many stories of her childhood and those centered on family activities, visiting relatives, and helping on her grandparents' farm in Eureka.

Julie graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1955. She continued her education at Northern State University. Upon graduation in 1958, she taught in Britton and Eugene, Ore.

She was married to Endre Gastony from 1959 to 1985 and together they had three children, Andrea, Amy and Konrad, who were raised in Aberdeen, Eugene, and Sioux Falls. Julie was a wonderful and loving grandmother to six grandchildren, Andy and Mike Madson, Bailey and Grace Vitek, and Kaia and Sara Gastony. Julie was affectionately known as the "Pajama Grandma" by her grandchildren as she loved giving them warm, cozy pajamas and doting on them.

Julie was very proud of her Germans from Russia heritage and she collected many photos and printed accounts related to her ancestry. Julie was active in UCC church congregations her entire life, which included acting as moderator and a UCC lay minister. She also sang in many church choirs, taught Sunday School and led Bible studies.

In her spare time, Julie loved visiting relatives and flower and vegetable gardening. She was an avid reader and crocheted many afghans for her children and grandchildren.

In 2008, Julie married Melvin Roesch, whom she had met at UCC church conferences, and she moved to the Roesch farm near Roscoe. Julie and Melvin were wonderful companions.

Julie died May 31, 2021, surrounded by loving family members at the Sanford Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. She died from congestive heart failure with related complications.

She is survived by her husband, Melvin of Roscoe; children, Andrea (Scott) Madson of Plymouth, Minn., Amy (Todd) Vitek of Nampa, Idaho and Konrad (Tasha) Gastony of Prior Lake, Minn.; her sister, Janita Holgate of Sheboygan, Wis., six grandchildren and all of Melvin's family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Ipswich UCC Church Stained Glass Windows Replacement Fund, 221 North 4th Street, Ipswich, SD 57451.

Arrangements by Gramm Funeral Home, Ipswich. Memories may be shared with her family at grammfuneralhome.com .