Debra C. Van Tassel, 65, of Rochester passed away peacefully Sunday, December 17, 2017 at her residence surrounded by family after a five year battle with cancer.

Debra was born August 18, 1952 in Wisconsin Rapids, WI to Kenneth and Joyce (McCallum) Korn. On October 30, 1971 she married Todd A. Van Tassel and moved to Rochester. In 1972, Debra started working at the Mayo Clinic in Medical Records and moved to Human Resources in 1976. In 1981, she started working in the Internal Medicine Residency Program and became supervisor in 1998. During her time in the residency program, she served with six program directors, 60 chief residents, and welcomed 2,376 residents into the program. On December 17, 2014, she retired after almost 43 years of service.

Debra enjoyed boating, camping with her husband, and most of all spending time with her four grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Todd; two children, Kent (Lori) Van Tassel of Rochester and Kari (Jim) Harbaugh of Pine Island; four grandchildren, Aubrey, Kennadi, Jaxon and Avery; and one sister, Judy Kamin of Madison, WI. She is preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial service will be at 11:00 am Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church with Pastor Charles Ortloff officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Friday, January 5, 2018 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour to the service at the church on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rochester.