Rosanna Walker, 82

 Rosanna Marian (Brown) Walker came into the world on September 10th, 1943, with just the right amount of sweet and spice. She was the youngest of eight siblings. Sadly, her mother died during childbirth, and she was adopted and raised by her Aunt and Uncle, Loah and Edgar Walker, whom she knew as Mom and Dad. 
She was enjoying being an only child until, at age 5, her sister Judy (age 6) came to join her in her Pacific Junction, Iowa home. Once the initial shock of no longer being an only child wore off, and after she bit Judy to assert her dominance, the two settled into a close relationship that has lasted to this day. 
Despite being raised as a Walker, she was always a part of Brown family activities and close to all her siblings - she would always say she was a Brown through and through and even wrote the family theme song on this premise. 
After graduating from Pacific Junction School, she went to secretarial school where she learned to type a million words a minute (or so it seemed). Her typos were next to nil, and this skill served her well in jobs, in college, and beyond when typing her sermons at record speed. 
She attended Morningside University (class of 1979), and in 1983 she graduated from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and was ordained in the United Church of Christ. In her own words, she was “blessed to serve as an Interim Pastor and community UCC in St Paul Park and as the called pastor of Granite Falls United Church of Christ, and of the Rainy River Regional Parish UCC churches (First Congregational UCC in Baudette, United Congregational UCC in Birchdale, and Pilgrim Congregational UCC in Williams)”. 
She was always an advocate for the underdog (whether it be a legit dog, a human or a cause in general) and ready to fight for what she believed to be the right thing. 
Rosanna retired in 2009 but continued to be active in Chapel Hill UCC. Can a pastor ever truly retire? She was much sought out to do weddings for family and friends, and she had a true knack for tying knots that hold tight. She also did some guest preaching and was always the best one to pray a blessing over our new homes or even just a meal together. 
Rosanna brought laughter and a sense of joy to everything she did, and she was a huge source of entertainment. She was a singer, a musician, a songwriter, a storyteller, and the kids in the family particularly loved a song she sang about an old rooster coming into the yard - perhaps you’ve heard it?? Anyway, she loved the open road and always enjoyed her time behind the wheel of her car, admiring the scenery along the route, whether in her neighborhood or on a longer journey to visit others. 
Family was everything, and although her Brown family was important, she was also devoted to her Minnesota family, the Pooley/Seidels, and her Wisconsin family, the Berns’ - when your longtime friends become family, it is a blessing indeed. Her relationships with all of her “families” and friends gave her much joy, and all who were embraced by her fierce love always felt unconditional support. 
She was the definition of love in action - 1 John 3:18 says, “Let us not love with words or speech, but as tangible service and genuine care for others.” 

Rosanna left this world on July 11, 2026, and she is survived by a network of friends, family, and fans who will never forget her and will miss her always. In the words of Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”