June 6, 1940 – February 26, 2026
Ivanka Nagode Rojina, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Ivanka was born to Franc and Štefanija Nagode on June 6, 1940, in Novi Svet, Yugoslavia (Slovenia as of 1991). She and her siblings, Franc and Polde Nagode, were raised during the challenges of WWII, and it shaped her in many ways.
She completed an Associate’s Degree in Economics and moved to the capital city, Ljubljana, and began work as an accountant. She was introduced to her future husband, Franc (Frank), through a mutual friend, and they were married on May 16, 1964. They welcomed their first daughter, Ursula, in 1964 and enjoyed being a young family. In 1971, Frank immigrated to the United States, sponsored by his sister Meta Kryger. He found work in Decatur, IL, learned the language, and established a new home so that one year later, Ivanka and Ursula joined him.
They moved to Kenosha, WI, and joined a fellow community of Slovenian families that included her Aunt Mary Nagode, cousin John Nagode, and his wife Dorothy and daughters Julie and Jennie. Since extended families were still in ‘the old country,’ this group of Slovenes established new rituals while honoring the amazing foods, music, and traditions from back home.
With the birth of their second child, Kathy, in 1973, Ivanka devoted her life to her family and built a life in Kenosha for 53 years. She was a dedicated homemaker, teaching her children Slovenian customs, traditions, and ensuring the language continued with both girls, which enriched their own relationships with relatives back home. Her love of beautiful jewelry, furniture, history, and her stealth negotiating talents led her to buying/selling antiques and then a successful decade career of retail sales at Evan Picone and Madeline, where she enjoyed helping her clients select clothing for milestone celebrations and making them feel special.
Ivanka put family above all else and instilled in her daughters and grandchildren the importance of love and unconditional support. She delighted in her role as ‘Babi’, grandmother to four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She doted on them, their milestones, celebrating holidays together, and enjoyed seeing them grow into adults to start exciting lives of their own.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 61 years, Frank, daughters, Ursula Boyd (Bret), Kathy Rojina; grandchildren, Dr. Frank Boyd (Mary), Christian Boyd (Gaby), Jack Boyd (Alexia), Gabrielle Boyd, and great granddaughter, Elizabeth Maria (Ellie) Boyd.
In the last years of her life, Ivanka endured the challenges of Dementia and Type II Diabetes. Our family goal was to have her age at home, and we proudly kept our word to her. However, that was accomplished with the amazing support and dedication of her caregivers: Vanessa, Hope, Nichole, Sheyenne, Jalissa, Erica, and Amanda. Sincere thanks to Dr. James Santarelli and his dedicated staff, and the care and empathy of the nurses in the Aurora Medical Center ER, ICU, and Hospice.
We invite you to make a donation to the Dementia Society of America, https://www.dementiasociety.org/, or a local animal rescue in her honor.
Private Entombment will be held on Monday, March 9, 2026, in All Saints Mausoleum.
Visitation
DATE:
March 7, 2026, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Piasecki Funeral Home
3720 39th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144
https://www.kenoshafuneralhome.com
Funeral Service
DATE:
March 7, 2026, at 4:00 pm
Piasecki Funeral Home
3720 39th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144
