Nelda Rossol

Nelda (Thusnelda) Rossol (nee Schwandt) was born on March 8, 1929 in Mariavka, Romania, and died in her home in Roseville, Michigan on February 15, 2025. She is survived by her three children: Tabea Edith (Edie) Duggins (Scott), Martin Rossol (Jennifer), and Ernie Rossol (Janine), along with 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Herbert Rossol—her husband of 72 years; her parents Samuel and Meta Schwandt; brothers Bruno (Wallhausen, Germany), Werner (Crailsheim, Germany), and Walter Schwandt (Medicine Hat, AB), sister Edith Kaul (Satteldorf, Germany), and great-grandson Samuel Stricklen.

To everyone who ever encountered her, Nelda was the epitome of a loving, compassionate, caring woman. People were always more important to her than things. And no one we know was more grateful than she, due in no small part to losing everything during WWII. She taught her children to recognize that “we are rich,” not in material possessions, but in family and spiritual heritage, not to mention God’s grace that each of us experiences daily.

Nelda experienced many challenges as a WWII war refugee. She and her family lost all their belongings and were separated from her brothers and father who were drafted into the German Army. Nelda’s father was a godly man who had refused to join the Nazis or to cooperate in spying on the Jews in his community, so he was sent—at age 50—to the Russian front as an interpreter but was shortly thereafter taken prisoner by the Russians. One of her brothers was also captured and held as a POW in southern France. Near the end of the war and still only 14 years old, Nelda had to guide her mother and younger sister as they fled Poland toward Germany, always just a few miles ahead of the advancing Russian army. Through it all, God protected Nelda and her parents and siblings. He also enabled them to find one another after the war so that her entire family was reunited in Germany.

A few years after the war ended, Nelda fell in love with a handsome young man, Herbert Rossol, but her hopes seemed dashed when his entire family emigrated to the USA in 1949. To her surprise, he proposed to her by mail. Her father advised her not to answer—in order to see if Herbert was really serious. He was and wrote to her again. She then prayed, “Lord, if it will be good for my soul, let me know and I will go.” The Lord made it clear to her that this was indeed his leading, so in November 1951 she emigrated to the U.S. and married Herbert in May 1952. Together they had three children and were blessed with 14 grandchildren and even 16 great-grandchildren.

Upon moving to the United States and experiencing life here, Nelda became a staunch American patriot. She was convinced that the U.S.A. was the best country in the world and was deeply grateful to God that she was able to live most of her life and raise her family here.

After they married, Herbert and Nelda joined Connor Avenue Baptist Church which became Ridgemont Baptist Church of East Detroit and later at Hope Community Baptist Church of Sterling Hts. Nelda was an active member, teaching Sunday school, helping in Vacation Bible School, in women’s ministries and visitation, and singing in the choir.

Perhaps her greatest impact was in exercising her gift of encouragement through which she touched countless lives, both young and old. She always looked at life in light of what God was doing? Her encouragement always came from a place of humility and trust in the Lord Jesus, never believing she had “arrived.”

Above all, Nelda loved well — her Lord, her husband Herbert, her children and grandchildren, fellow believers at Connor, Ridgemont & Hope churches, neighbors and friends. She will be missed dearly!

A Visitation for Nelda will be held Tuesday, February 18, 2025 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Resurrection Funeral Home, 40800 Hayes Road in Clinton Township. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, February 19, 2025 from 11:00 am at Hope Community Baptist Church, 42259 Hayes Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313. Friends may visit the church on Wednesday beginning at 10:00 am.

In memory of Nelda, donations are appreciated to BEE World. Please mail check to BEE World, P.O. Box 64320, Colorado Springs, CO 80962-4320 or donate online at www.beeworld.org/donate