Rebecca Becky Jayne Nickerson Rowin

Rebecca Jayne Rowin, 57, of Mesa passed away May 28, 2012 in Mesa after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. Becky was born Rebecca Jayne Nickerson on March 23, 1955 at Cedar Valley Hospital in Charles City, Iowa to George Earl and Eunice Mea (Rice) Nickerson.

She graduated from Seydel High School class of 1971, graduating six months early. She attended Ankeny area community college in Iowa, graduating March 1, 1974 as an LPN. At one time she worked at the Children’s Hospital with special needs children.

She moved to Mesa, Arizona September 1982. She worked for a short time at the nursing homes and eventually that led to a job at Mesa Lutheran Hospital. There she worked with the nurse named Julie Welch whose husband was a Baptist minister. In September she was invited to attend family camp with their church. There she met Ken who peaked her interest because, this man was washing dishes. Six months later, on January 21, 1984 they were married and started their venture. Becky continued to work at Mesa Lutheran Hospital until injuring the ulnar nerve to her left elbow. We taught Sunday school to preschoolers and God gave us a love for two children in the class, Linda and Joshua. This is how God moved us into foster care and she became a stay-at-home mom. In time with God’s grace we started caring for special needs children. She spent a lot of time with FBC programs for the children and through time worked for many years as their nurse. A job she thoroughly enjoyed.

September 1996 Becky began working for Mesa schools for two years as a classroom aide. August 1998 she attended Green Star College and studied massage therapy, graduating June 5, 1999. Also during that time she took the class on Craniosacral Therapy. Her desire was to care for infants and special needs children using massage therapy.

Becky is survived by her loving husband Kenneth Rowin; her mother Eunice Green; her brother: Dick Nickerson; and children: Linda, Joshua, Sean (wife Autumn), Sarah, Caleb, Meagan, Brandon,

and three grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her father George, her brother, Bob and step dad, Othel Green.

For over 27 years we have been obedient to the call of God to care for His children. We have cared for many and have adopted six that God had placed in our hearts.

Visitation for Rebecca will be held Friday, June 22, 2012 at the Melcher Mission Chapel 6625 E. Main Street beginning at 6:30 pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 10:30 am at Celebration Christian Church, 1010 S. Ellsworth Ave., Mesa, AZ. She will lie in state at the church from 9:30 am until the hour of service at 10:30.

In lieu of flowers please send a love offering to the family, www.melchermission.com (480)832-3500.