Candace Lea Roeker, age 73, of Portage, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at Tivoli Community in Portage.

Candace was born on August 10, 1951, in Whitewater, the daughter of Harvey and Elaine Kuhnke (Hopp). She attended UW Whitewater, graduating with a degree in education in 1973. After graduation she began teaching special education in Portage. Candy earned her master’s in special education in 1980. She worked for 33 years in the Portage school district helping hundreds of students, retiring in 2006.

After retirement, Candy helped to establish the River Haven homeless shelter in Portage and volunteered there for several years helping women and families. Helping people was a life-long passion for Candy. Candy enjoyed dancing, including clogging, singing karaoke, golfing, traveling and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband Donald Roeker; children, Will (Leslie) Trojanowski, Scott (Adam Olson) Trojanowski, and Keith (Cassie) Trojanowski; step-children, Julie Prudom and Eric Roeker; her grandchildren, Nicholas Trojanowski, Lucas Trojanowski, Noah Trojanowski, Jacob Prudom, Austin Prudom, and Brandon Roeker; her brother, Joseph Kuhnke; her sister, Susan (Jeff) Homan; her brother-in- law, Paul Roemer; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her
sister, Alice Roemer; her sister-in-law, Mae Kuhnke; and her former husband, Jerold Trojanowski.

Visitation and Service will be at Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage on January 24th, 2025. Visitation from 9:30 AM-11:30 AM with service at 11:30. There will be a luncheon to follow at the KC Hall Portage.

The family would like to thank Dr. Susan Kreckman and the staff of Tivoli Community and Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital for their care and concern.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to River Haven Homeless Shelter.

Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage (www.pmmfh.com), is assisting the family.