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Rev. Donald LeRoy "Don" Rothfuss
Aug 9, 1927 - Nov 19, 2010
Posted by Jo Aguirre

BARTLESVILLE EXAMINER-ENTERPRISE
BARTLESVILLE, WASHINGTON CO, OK
(permission granted)
Published Nov 22 - Dec 22, 2010

Rev. Donald LeRoy Rothfuss, age 83, of Dewey, Oklahoma, passed away on November 19, 2010, in Tulsa, after an extended illness.

Don was born near Salina, Kansas in the little community of Wells on August 9, 1927 to Rev. Harry James and Mabel Mae (Alderson) Rothfuss. He grew up in a variety of Kansas communities as his father pastored in cities including Salina, Topeka, & Clay Center. He graduated from Topeka High School and Miltonvale Wesleyan College, a predecessor of Oklahoma Wesleyan University. After attending the Nazarene Theological Seminary for one year, he was forced to drop out of graduate school due to failing eyesight, and accepted his first pastorate in the small country church of Englewood, just a few miles from Phillipsburg, Kansas.

Through the years, he served seven additional Wesleyan congregations; including five in Kansas -- Morgan Chapel (Concordia), Phillipsburg, Ottawa, Topeka Fairlawn Heights, Manhattan Westview. Later he also served Fort Collins Foothills Wesleyan Church in Colorado and Atkinson Wesleyan Church in Nebraska.

After retiring in 1992, he moved to Dewey, Oklahoma and served as assistant pastor at Sooner Park Wesleyan Church in Bartlesville, working with his son, Pastor Gene Rothfuss. He was a loving pastor whose congregations quickly grew. He was a committed church builder; in five of the eight congregations he served he led the way for a major expansion of the church facilities. At Ottawa, Topeka, and Manhattan, he built entirely new church campuses, and the Topeka church was a brand-new congregation as well, planted on the growing west edge of the Topeka community.

Don married his college sweetheart, Ruth Elaine Sandoz. They married on Don's birthday in 1948, and God blessed their home with five children. His greatest enjoyments in life centered around serving God, his family and his congregations.

A hard worker, he poured himself into his ministry for 52 years, serving not only local congregations, but also as a leader on the district level of the church. He was never happier than when building something for the Lord. He enjoyed participating in softball, cheering for local basketball teams, spending time with his five children, his twelve grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren, working on his home and gardening.

Don was preceded in death by his parents.

Don is survived by his wife, Ruth, and his five children, Marcia DePriest and husband David of Longmont, CO; Linda Radaker and husband Greg of Dewey, OK; Eugene Rothfuss and wife Joy of Colby, KS; Patty Leach of Dewey, OK; and Becci Rothfuss of Siloam Springs, AR. Also surviving are five siblings; Ray (Sheryl) Rothfuss of Mitchell, SD; Wilma (Dale) Rumbaugh of Junction City, KS; Paul (Marilyn) Rothfuss of Topeka, KS; Darrell (Rose) Rothfuss and Richard Rothfuss of Junction City, KS. Don's twelve grandchildren are Dr. Kirk (Kate) DePriest, Lara (Peder) Halseide, Katie, Kristen, Kyla and Karissa Radaker, Wende (Tyler) Cassabaum, Cyndi and Mysti Rothfuss, Joey (Jen) Leach, and Jade and J'llyssa Leach.

A memorial fund has been established to provide support for Wesleyan Global Partners missionaries Lester and Amanda (Hada) Wyatt, serving in Eastern Europe. Those who wish may send their contributions to Sooner Park Wesleyan Church, 6200 E Baylor Drive, Bartlesville, OK 67701, or leave them with the Neekamp Funeral Home in Bartlesville.

Funeral services for Rev. Rothfuss will be held at 10 A.M. Wednesday, November 24 at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Chapel-Fine Arts Building. Rev. Eugene Rothfuss will officiate; Rev. Elmer Brannon and Rev. Greg McNall will assist.

Interment will be at the Dewey Cemetery. Funeral services and interment will be under the direction of the Neekamp Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com.