A Celebration of Life Service to honor the life and legacy of Doris Rossow, age 84, of Lakefield, will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield on Saturday, November 1st at 11:00 AM, with a time of visitation and gathering from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM. Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Lakefield.

The service will be livestreamed on the Immanuel Lutheran Church Facebook page. Memorial gifts may be given in memory of Doris to the Immanuel Lutheran School in Lakefield.

Doris Jean (Carroll) Rossow was born on December 23, 1940, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to the late Evelyn Mae (Watt) and Russell Marvin Carroll. Doris lived her life with deep and abiding faith. Her trust in the Lord guided her through every season of life, and she found strength and peace in His promises. She began each day with praise and sang a medley of songs that affirmed her love for Jesus.

Doris was baptized as an infant on February 2, 1941, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff and was later confirmed on her grandma Watt's birthday on May 24, 1955. Her confirmation verse, Revelation 2:10 was her life compass, "Be Thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

As a child, Doris moved frequently and attended five schools in three states, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska, by the second grade. She attended Sunflower Grade and High School, a country school near Mitchell, Nebraska, until her junior year, when she moved to Mitchell High School, where she graduated in 1959. Doris went on to study at Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, where she earned a bachelor's degree in education. In the summer of 1962, Doris attended Colorado State University in Greeley, where she played in an orchestra directed by the renowned director, Roger Wagner, performing Verdi's Requiem.

On August 8, 1965, Doris was united in marriage to Dwaine Marlyn Rossow at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield, Minnesota. The marriage was blessed with three children, Darrin, Dellynne and Deanne. Their wedding text, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15, reflected their shared commitment to faith and family.

Doris devoted her life to teaching, guiding children both academically and spiritually. She began her vocation teaching third, fourth and fifth grade at Immanuel Lutheran School in Lakefield and went on to share her gifts across many grades and subjects. Her greatest joy was found in music ministry—directing choirs, teaching lessons, and praising God through every note. She began playing piano at the age of five, organ at sixteen, and later added accordion and violin, playing a cherished violin made by her grandfather, Henry Watt. For decades, she led Immanuel's Senior Choir and contributed her talents to Jubilant and the Lakefield Community Choir. Music was the language of her heart and a lifelong expression of her gratitude to God. In 2020, Doris retired from the choir, playing the organ for services, and teaching music lessons.

Her creative talents were reflected through painting, sewing and quilting, as well as reading, playing and writing music, and she also enjoyed gardening and canning produce. Doris learned to sew on a treadle machine for 4-H, when she was ten years old and lovingly sewed countless formal dresses, quilts and treasures for family and friends.

On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Doris was called home to her Savior and was received into the loving arms of Jesus at her home in Lakefield, surrounded by her family.

Those who rejoice in the promise of being reunited with her in God's presence, include her husband of 60 years, Dwaine Rossow; children, Darrin (Tammy) Rossow of Lakefield, Dellynne (Tim) Monson of Lakefield, and Deanne (Jim) Hofer of Shakopee; seven grandchildren, Nicholas (Morgan) Carroll, Whitney (Josh) Bretzman, Brooke Rossow, Nathen Monson, Cole Monson, Andrew Hofer, and Isaac Hofer; two great-grandchildren, Joelle Doris Bretzman and Olivia Ann Bretzman; brother, Donald (Farrell) Carroll; and nephew, Steven (Stacey) Carroll and children, Shawn, Stella and Sadie.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Evelyn and Russell; brother, Dennis Carroll; niece, Brenda Carroll; and her grandparents, Henry and Edith (Nielsen) Watt and Harry and Hazel (Blowers) Carroll.

Doris cherished Psalm 118:24 reminding us that "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it". She lived joyfully knowing "Nothing can separate us from the love of God" Romans 8: 38-39.