Donald Rothfuss

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.

Visitation Details

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home

Service Details

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 10:00am

Interment Details

Dewey, Oklahoma