John T. Rohde Jr.

March 1, 1929-April 13, 2017

John Thomas Rohde, Jr., 88, of Cañon City, Colo.,, and recently of Homer, Alaska, died in Cañon City on April 13, 2017. He was born on March 1, 1929, in Kansas City, Mo., to John T. and Alice C. Rohde.

John grew up in the Kansas City area and attended the University of Kansas and William Jewell College, before graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Western State College of Colorado. He served in the U. S. Naval Reserve during the Korean war.

His loving wife of 63 years, Jocelyn (Jocie) Rohde, died in 2014. He and Jocelyn were married at Christ Episcopal Church, Alameda, Calif., on May 27, 1951. He is survived by their three children, Nancy Alice Hamersky of Denver, Hans (John T. III) Rohde of Colorado Springs and Ruth Rohde Lively of New Haven, Conn.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. John was a near life-long member of the Episcopal Church, and active in Episcopal churches in Missouri, California, Kansas, Arizona, Colorado and Alaska. He served as a Deputy from the Diocese of Colorado to the Episcopal Church General Convention for four 3-year terms from 1982 to 1994. At the time of his death he was an active member of Christ Church, Cañon City, Colo.

Following his Navy service, John was employed by B-D-R Engineering Corporation in Kansas City, beginning as office manager, then in sales, and eventually advancing to president. In 1970 John and Jocelyn moved the family to Colorado where they owned and operated a resort for 18 years, as well as an art and photography shop, in Gunnison County. They also owned a quarter horse ranch at that time. John was a member of several professional organizations, including Rotary, and he served as president of the Exchange Club of Kansas City. For many years he was a square dance club caller and teacher for the High Country Squares in Gunnison. John enjoyed reading and traveling.

John and Jocelyn came out of semi-retirement in 1987 to enter the mission field of the Episcopal Church as executive directors of El Hogar Ministries (The Home of Love and Hope) in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, a group of three homes and schools for abandoned and desperately poor children. They served in that capacity, living in Central America, for nine years until retirement in 1996.

In 2012, the Rohdes moved to Homer. They loved the beauty and grandeur of the Alaskan mountains and sea, being close to nature and wildlife, and especially the warmth and friendliness of the people of Homer. After Jocie’s death in September 2014, John stayed on until June of 2016.

A memorial service is planned at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Christ Episcopal Church in Cañon City.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions, for those who wish, to El Hogar Ministries Inc., 21 Cummings Park Dr. #238, Woburn, MA 01801, or to Christ Church, 802 Harrison Avenue, Cañon City, CO 81212.