Loretta Mae Roan

Loretta Mae Langin Roan died July 18, 2025, at age 94. She was born on Sept. 29, 1930, in Sioux Falls, S.D., to Rose Dunlevy Langin and Thomas Langin, the second of six children. Loretta moved with her family to Des Moines in childhood and attended North High School, graduating in 1948. She worked at Bell Telephone before marrying Patrick J. Roan Jr. - the start of a blessed, 66-year marriage.

After time at home raising young children, Loretta took night classes during the 1960s to learn typing and bookkeeping skills. She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper, working for many years in the accounts department at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines and retiring in 1996.

Loretta's greatest joys were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to visit her far-flung family, and they adored her. She cared deeply for all the Roan and Langin extended families and cherished her many nieces and nephews. Becoming a grandmother was one of the greatest joys of her life. She was admired for her outstanding baking skills, and her cookies and fudge were legendary. She was a voracious reader and closely followed local and national politics, often joining in rallies and speeches at the state Capitol. She enjoyed swimming and walking and was a great beauty, always dressing in stylish clothing. She was on a first-name basis with the sales associates at Von Maur, who will surely miss her. Loretta was a devout Catholic who continued to study her faith, taking adult education courses offered by the Church or Dowling High School, for many years. She was a long-time member of St. Ambrose Cathedral. In her later years, she resided at MorningStar Senior Living in West Des Moines, where she was lovingly attended to by son Larry and his fiancée Lesly Thompson.

Loretta lost her beloved husband, Patrick J. Roan Jr., on Dec. 20, 2020. She was predeceased by four siblings: Rosemarie Langin, Bob Langin, Virginia Pearson and Delores Boudewyns. Loretta is survived by her brother John Langin (Sandy) of Des Moines; three children - John Thomas "Tom" Roan (Jean) of Columbus, Ohio; Sharon "Shari" Roan Lednovich (Mike) of Fernandina Beach, FL.; and Lawrence "Larry" Roan (Lesly Thompson) of West Des Moines; three grandchildren: Patrick Roan (Jamie), Kristen Lednovich and Jane Lednovich; and three great-granddaughters: Kennedy Roan, Avery Roan and Holly Cochran. A fourth great-grandchild will be born later this year. A funeral mass will be held Friday, Aug. 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Ambrose Cathedral, 607 High St., Des Moines. Lunch will be served in the church hall following Mass. In lieu of flowers, kindly direct any memorial gifts to the Refugee Ministry at St. Ambrose Cathedral, 607 High St., Des Moines, Iowa, 50309.