Elsa Margaret Gongwer

Elsa Margaret Roehm Gongwer, age 93, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2025. She was born at the Swedish American Hospital in Chicago, Illinois on November 21, 1931, to the late Harper Andrews Roehm and H. Alice Tuveson Roehm. Elsa was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Galen George Gongwer. She is survived by her two daughters, Suzanne Melton Tasker and her husband Michael of Jacksonville, FL and Nancy Melton Slavens of Murfreesboro, TN; four grandchildren, Adam Beccue and his wife Kristen, Taylor Beccue and his girlfriend Chelcee, Justin Slavens and his wife Kallen and Jennifer Jursik and her husband Nick; five great grandchildren and one more soon to arrive.

Mrs. Gongwer was born in Chicago, but spent most of her life in Normal, Illinois. She graduated from University High School in 1949 and Illinois State Normal University in 1953. She was able to have a wonderful influence on children by being a kindergarten teacher. She will be dearly missed by her family!

Elsa and Galen donated often to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and their family would suggest if you felt led to make a memorial donation, that it be made to St. Jude in Elsa’s memory.

Her family will celebrate her life privately.