Introducing The Class of 2018: Genevieve Irene (Koski) Judd Roan

Sept. 28, 1914–Nov. 4, 2017
There are very few people who live to be 100. Gen Roan not only lived to be a centenarian, but actively contributed to her community, church and country for nearly all of those years.
Gen (Koski) Roan spent a lifetime caring for others in her profession as a nurse, however she was probably best known for her volunteer spirit and patriotic soul. Her life was centered on God, family and country, and that legacy continues on in the many lives she touched with her heart and hands in her 103-year life.
Gen was born Sept. 28, 1914, at home near Horton, Wyo. She was the third born child of seven siblings. The Koski family lived on a farm near Four Corners, Wyo., and Gen attended Rockwell school for one year. After their home burned down, the family lived with their grandparents for a short time before moving to Newcastle in March of 1921. Gen attended school and graduated from Newcastle High School in 1934. She worked in private homes from the seventh grade until she graduated. After graduation, she entered nurse’s training at the St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Deadwood, S.D., graduating as a registered nurse in June 1937. Gen worked for six months as night supervisor at the Deadwood Hospital before moving to Wheatland, Wyo.
While nursing in Wheatland, she met Jarvis H. Judd, whom she married in Custer, S.D., on Aug. 16, 1938. To this union, five children were born. In 1946, tragedy struck the young family when Jarvis was killed in a motorcycle accident.
In June of 1947, Gen packed up her children ranging in age from 7 years to 18 months old and moved back to Newcastle. She worked in a privately owned hospital in Newcastle until the new hospital was completed in 1949. Gen married Ralph Roan on Feb. 16, 1950, and to this union, one son was born.
Gen continued to work in the nursing field until she retired in 1979. Gen and Ralph enjoyed retirement and gardening until he passed away in 1985.
Gen was instrumental in the planning of Newcastle’s first All School Reunion when she took it upon herself to contact the earliest living graduates, which in 1980 were the classes of 1905 to 1934. Gen made many scrapbooks of past reunions and remained dedicated to the All School Reunion during her lifetime, serving as class representative for the 1930-1937 classes and even sent notices out for the last All School Reunion July 3-5, 2015.
Gen was dedicated to the activities and education of her children, and felt it was important to always be there for them.
She served as room mother, assistant Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother. She also gave flag presentations at the local schools so children could learn proper flag etiquette, organized many of the patriotic essay contests for the VFW Auxiliary, distributed Buddy Poppies and also sent cards and packages to veterans. She was a 66-year member of the VFW Auxiliary, Post 2516. Her children dubbed her “Mrs. VFW.”
Her commitment to community didn’t end with the VFW, however. She belonged to Gateway Gals Homemakers, which became the Artful Gals; was a charter member of AARP Chapter 2488; took blood pressure at the senior center in Newcastle; delivered Meals on Wheels; she was instrumental in forming the senior citizens center; was a member of the Council of Catholic Women; a member of Newcastle Chamber of Commerce; member of Fancy Workers; and was Beta Sigma Phi Woman of the Year in 1982. Gen received multiple nominations for the News Letter Journal’s Person of the Year. She was a keeper of history for many of these organizations, making numerous scrapbooks in her lifetime.
Gen was proud of her Catholic faith, and was very proud that in her pew every week sat five generations of her family. She had a generous and patriotic soul, and her love of God, family, and country were evident in every aspect of her life. Gen (Koski) Roan is inducted (posthumously) in the NHS Hall of Fame for truly giving of herself to her church parish, country and community for over a century.