Donald Arthur Roach

Donald (Donn) Arthur Roach, of Fargo passed away from complications of Parkinson’s disease, on May 17 of 2014. Donn was born in Chicago, IL in 1938 to Rev. Orval and Elsie Roach. He was the eldest of 5 brothers. He grew up in Chicago; Goodwin, SD; Centerville, SD; and Dunkerton, IA. Upon Donn graduating from Dunkerton High School, Donn served two years in the US Army in a mechanized infantry unit.

He worked various jobs including meat packing plant work, piano bar player and sang for weddings. Donn had a beautiful tenor singing voice and skillfully played piano as well. Music always was a central part of his life.

In 1963 Donn married Jean Tyson of Redwood Falls, MN. Jean and Donn raised three children together, Rebecca, Nancy and Tom. Donn worked for the US Chamber of Commerce as Chamber manager, working for the Chamber in St. Cloud, MN; Van Wert, OH; Gary, IN; Windom, MN; and Bemidji MN. Donn took a job in Corporate Bookings for Cragun’s Resort and Conference Center near Brainerd MN in 1982, and the family moved to Brainerd in 1983. In 1985 Donn founded an organization called Partners, pairing children with caring adult mentors, in the Brainerd area. Donn was a runner, completing numerous marathons and once ran around Crow Wing County, MN in four days, as a fundraiser for his Partners organization. In 1992, Donn and Jean moved to Redwood Falls, MN where he started a small sporting goods business. In May of 1994 his wife Jean passed away after a brief battle with a brain tumor.

In the fall of 1994 at 56 years of age, Donn decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, and attended his first ministry training programs at Stephens Ministry Leadership Training in Maryland, and North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. In May of 2000, Donn graduated with a BA in Religion and Philosophy from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Donn met Carole Jarman in 1994 and in May of 1996 they were married in Grand Forks, N.D. They moved to Alvarado, MN in 1997, where Donn worked his first pastoral jobs as interim pastor for Warren Evangelical Covenant church in Warren, MN and Viking Evangelical Church in Viking, MN.
Donn and Carole, moved to Springdale, AR in 1999. Donn continued in his pastoral trainings and worked at interim pastor positions at small community churches in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and South Dakota. Donn also worked as a Hospital and Hospice Chaplain in this period of time in Arkansas.

Donn and Carole moved to Fargo in 2008. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009, he began to have physical difficulties that made it hard for him to continue in his pastoral work, but he stayed involved in the ministry and celebration of the Lord through music, to the extent he was able.

Donn truly loved every person he knew, and it was an easy feeling to return to him. He cared deeply for people and helping others through difficulties in their lives was a major motivational force in his. Donn’s life was dedicated to his Lord and his family. He lived that way until his death.

Donn is survived by his wife, Carole; son, Tom (Melissa) Roach, Cook, MN; step-sons, Paul (Tammy) Jarman, Savage, MN and Chad Jarman, Fargo, ND; daughters, Rebecca Stevens, Redwood Falls, MN, Nancy Roach DeLegge, Chicago, IL and step-daughter, Suzi (Mark) Uggerud, Reile’s Acres, ND; three brothers, Bob (Linda) Roach, Sioux Falls, SD, Roger (Nancy) Roach, Freemont, NE and Dan Roach, Lincoln, NE; eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Jean and brother, Richard.