Tara Lynn Roth

Tara Lynn Roth was born on May 3, 1975 in Hartford, Wisconsin to Cheryl and Jay Roth. She was born and immediately diagnosed with Spina Bifida. Tara’s father and mother were so happy that Tara had arrived and they approved surgery to close her spine. They knew they had been given a rare and wonderful gift from God. They brought Tara into God’s family baptizing her in the hospital.

Tara was an incredibly loving child. She loved to give kisses and hugs to everyone, but especially her mother. As a child, Tara overcame many physical challenges. Tara was always determined to keep up with her older brother, Randy and older sister, Rachel. She had sixteen surgeries in 17 years to help improve her mobility and quality of life. Tara had a very special spirit, but she knew most people treated her differently because of her disability. She cherished the people in her life who spoke directly to her, looked her in the eyes, and took the time to get to know her without seeing her as less than themselves.

The Roth family moved from Hartford, Wisconsin to Woodruff, Wisconsin in 1978. Tara went to elementary school at Trinity Lutheran School in Minocqua, Wisconsin until the Roth’s moved to Mankato, MN in 1988. She attended Mount Olive Lutheran School in Mankato and was confirmed there. She then attended Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School and graduated in 1993. She enrolled at Bethany Lutheran College for a year. The highlight of her time at Bethany was singing in the choir and traveling to London on choir tour. She had several jobs before returning to school at South Central Technical College. She earned a degree in the speech therapy assistant program. Tara loved helping kids and she worked for a time in the Mankato school system.

In February of 2004, Tara became an aunt when her sister Rachel and brother-in-law, Jon Erkkila, were blessed with a baby girl, Lily. Tara took to being an aunt with ease and joy. She especially enjoyed babysitting for Lily with her Dad. The two of them had a wonderful relationship and could find a way to make jokes in nearly every situation.

When her father, Jay passed away, Tara relocated to Arizona to be with her mother, brother and grandmother in the Queen Creek, Arizona. Tara took a job with Norwegian Cruise Line in Mesa and did not realize this would become her career. Tara’s mobility never stopped her from cruising, taking in the ocean breeze and helping other people book their cruise vacations.

Tara became an aunt again, when her brother Randy and his wife Estreia were blessed with a son, Talin in 2009. Her sister Rachel and Jon were also blessed with a very special child, Dashiel in 2010. Randy and Estreia also added a child to the family, a daughter, Nevaeh born in 2013. Throughout Tara’s life, the role she loved the most was that of Aunt. She loved to play with her nieces and nephews and always looked to get just the right gifts to show them her love and how much attention she paid to their interests.

Another of Tara’s loves was dogs. All of them were her favorites including Chelsea, the black lab; Lemppi the pug; Sammie and Sadie, the yellow labs; Bailey the giant chocolate lab; Ellie Mae her beloved Basset Hound and their most recent addition, Peggy the little white rescue dog.

Tara will be missed by her family and everyone that knew her. She will be missed the most by her mother, Cheryl. Cheryl took her job as Tara’s mother seriously and treated Tara with unconditional love and respect. Tara’s medical circumstances led Cheryl to become a nurse in the 1980’s. Cheryl’s nursing skills and love for Tara allowed her to support Tara’s medical needs with her specialized knowledge and tender loving care.

Recently, Tara and Cheryl moved to a smaller home in Florence, AZ. The things Tara missed from their home in Queen Creek were the sunsets. The Arizona sky gave her joy and reminded her that God provides us with so much beauty.

Tara was preceded in death by her grandfather and grandmother Leslie and Gertrude Roth; Grandfather, Albert Jaeger; Uncle, Daniel Jaeger; Father, Jay Roth; and brother, Randy Roth. Tara is survived by her grandmother, Margaret Jaeger; her mother, Cheryl (Jaeger) Roth; Her sister, Rachel (Roth) Erkkila and Jon Erkkila; her niece Lily Erkkila, her nephew Dashiel Erkkila; Estreia Roth; her nephew Talin Roth and her niece, Nevaeh Roth.