Douglas Rother Passes at Age 80
Douglas Gerald Rother, 80, of Chandler, Arizona, died on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at home.
Mr. Rother was born January 13, 1942, in Wolbach, to Henry and Ethel Rother. He was the oldest of eighteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rother. He attended school in Wolbach and graduated from Wolbach High School. He was an alumnus of Wayne State College, where he obtained a degree in business.
He was united in marriage to Judith D. Cook at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wolbach on March 27, 1965, and was her beloved husband for forty-five years.
He served as a paratrooper member of 5th Special Forces Group (101st Airborne), 1st Special Forces in the United States Army from 1960-1963. After the military, he became a Nebraska State Trooper from 1967 until 1972 in Wayne. Upon leaving the Nebraska State Patrol, he completed his education at Wayne State College in Wayne. He worked as a salesman for many years and finished his career in the United States Postal Service in 2010.
Survivors include his four sons and daughters-in-law, Tim Rother of West Covina, California, Todd and Jamie Rother, of Long Beach, California, Terry and Jill Rother, of Chandler, Arizona, and Brett and Ashley Rother of San Antonio, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Garey Gjerstad, of Chapman, Kansas; grandchildren, Linzy, Lacey, and Lexie Rother, Tyler, Lauren, and Jessica Gjerstad, Cassandra Rother, Taylor Rother, and Caitlyn and Carly Rother; and great-grandchildren Kayla, Erik and Nicholas Rother, Maisyon Singleton, and Rocket Jones.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ethel Rother; his wife, Judy Rother; his brothers, John and Edward Rother; his son, Bradley Rother; and his granddaughter, Brooklyn Rother.
Friends and family are invited to attend a vigil and rosary at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at Valley of the Sun Mortuary, located at 10940 E. Chandler Heights Road, in Chandler. The memorial service will be conducted at noon on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lauren’s Institute for Education (LIFE), Attn: Donations, 1305 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, Arizona 85296.