Rev. Paul William ROTHFUSZ

ROTHFUSZ, GEISZLER, WORMLEY, JOHNSON, GRAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/1/2010 at 13:20:44

Paul William Rothfusz, 71, of West Des Moines, died April 28, 2010 at his home in West Des Moines. A memorial service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines, on Monday, May 3 at 11 a.m. The family will greet family and friends at lunch following the service.

Paul William Rothfusz, the sixth son of Andrew and Anna (Geiszler) Rothfusz, was born May 2, 1938, in rural Ashley, N.D. He attended both grade and high school in Ashley, graduating in 1956. He attended Wartburg College, Waverly, graduating in 1960 with a B.A. in Biology. His seminary education took place at Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, including an internship at Trinity Lutheran Church, Oak Lawn, Ill. After seminary, Paul studied for two years at the University of Iowa School of Religion. Paul married Jean Wormley on June 19, 1966, in Oswego, Ill. Following a summer honeymoon spent working for the U.S. Forest Service on a fire lookout tower in northern Idaho, Paul was ordained in his home congregation, Zion Lutheran, Ashley, N.D. Paul served as pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkader, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Nazareth Lutheran Church in Armstrong, Holmes Lutheran Church in Holmes, and Samuel Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove.

Upon retirement Paul and Jean moved to Weslaco, Texas. He then served as the first coordinator for the Companion Synod Program of the ELCA between the Western Iowa Synod and the Southern Diocese of the ELCT in Tanzania.

Paul was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents, and brothers Clarence and Gerhardt. He is survived by his wife, Jean, of Weslaco, Texas, and West Des Moines, son Mark (Lydia) of Atlantic, son John (Elise) of Washington, Ill., daughter Anne (Shawn) Johnson of Des Moines, and daughter Mary of Chicago. Also surviving are grandchildren Lisa, Andrew, Aaron and Kaitlyn Rothfusz of Atlantic; Daniel, David and Anna Rothfusz of Washington, Ill.; Connor, Quinn and Sophia Johnson of Des Moines; and Robert Gran of Glenwood. Other survivors include brothers Irvin (Helen) of Ashley, N.D, Marvin (Judy) of Glencoe, Minn., and Ralph (Judy) of Bay Village, Ohio. In addition to his family and his ministry Paul enjoyed sailing, camping, financial planning, traveling, gardening, refugee resettlement, and the Cursillo movement. The body was donated to Des Moines University Medical School. Memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church or the Western Iowa Companion Synod Program.

http://www.funeraldigest.com/obituaries/?id=142342434

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Des Moines Register, Iowa
April 30, 2010

West Des Moines--Paul William Rothfusz, 71, of West Des Moines, died April 28, at his home in West Des Moines.A memorial service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines on May 3, at 11 a.m. The family will greet family and friends at lunch following the service.

Paul, the sixth son of Andrew and Anna (Geiszler) Rothfusz, was born May 2, 1938, in rural Ashley, ND. He attended both grade and high school in Ashley, graduating in 1956.He attended Wartburg College, Waverly, IA, graduating in 1960 with a B.A. in Biology.His seminary education took place at Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA, including an internship at Trinity Lutheran Church, Oak Lawn, IL. After seminary, Paul studied for two years at the University of Iowa, School of Religion.

Paul married Jean Wormley on June 19, 1966, in Oswego, IL. Following a summer honeymoon spent working for the U.S. Forest Service on a fire lookout tower in northern Idaho, Paul was ordained in his home congregation, Zion Lutheran, Ashley, ND.Paul served as pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkader, IA, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA, Nazareth Lutheran Church in Armstrong, IA, Holmes Lutheran Church in Holmes, IA and Samuel Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove, IA.

Upon retirement Paul and Jean moved to Weslaco, TX. He then served as the first coordinator for the Companion Synod Program of the ELCA between the Western Iowa Synod and the Southern Diocese of the ELCT in Tanzania.

Paul was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents, and brothers Clarence and Gerhardt.He is survived by his wife, Jean of Weslaco, TX, and West Des Moines; son Mark (Lydia) of Atlantic, IA, son John (Elise) of Washington, IL; daughter Anne (Shawn) Johnson of Des Moines and daughter Mary of Chicago; grandchildren, Lisa, Andrew, Aaron and Kaitlyn Rothfusz of Atlantic, IA, Daniel, David and Anna Rothfusz of Washington, IL, Connor, Quinn and Sophia Johnson of Des Moines, and Robert Gran of Glenwood, IA. Other survivors include brothers, Irvin (Helen) of Ashley, ND, Marvin (Judy) of Glencoe, MN, and Ralph (Judy) of Bay Village, OH.

In addition to his family and his ministry, Paul enjoyed sailing, camping, financial planning, traveling, gardening, refugee resettlement, and the Cursillo movement.His body was donated to Des Moines University Medical School.Memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church or the Western Iowa Companion Synod Program.