Obituary of John Charles Rothwell

On Sunday, February 7, 2021, John Charles Rothwell, age 76, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. Beloved husband of 53 years to Lenore (Kolodziejski); proud father of Jason (Jenn Lyden) Rothwell, Julie (Tony) Divjak, and Jonathan (Claire Cuda) Rothwell; loving grandfather of Uma Rothwell. Further survived by his nieces Carolyn (Jack) Shaw and Bonnie Lockwood and numerous other family and friends. Preceded in death by his parents, sister June, brother Robert, and Rothwell’s Chips of Gold.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, John proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and, after returning home, continued in the Navy Reserves for 21 years. After active service, he received his Master’s Degree in Engineering and had a long career at Rockwell Automation, from where he retired after 34 years. After his retirement, John and Lenore enjoyed their summers in Three Lakes, Wisconsin, where he was an active member of the American Legion Post 431, Three Lakes Waterfront Association, and St. Theresa’s Church. He was an avid boater and enjoyed listening to The Big Cheese while putzing in his workshop. They spent winters in Bluffton, South Carolina, where he loved volunteering and woodworking in the Woodworkers Guild, going for pizza with the guys, and helping out his neighbors. 

He never missed an opportunity to tell his children (and anyone else) how proud he was of them and how blessed he felt for his family. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, and teacher. He taught his children a love of nature and the outdoors, how to fix almost anything, build an enormous campfire (more wood!), sail a boat, renovate a home, and the list goes on. He was also kind and generous. He truly enjoyed lending a helping hand and treated everyone he knew, like family.

Our fondest memories of John have us all laughing because of his wonderful sense of humor. He had a way with words and was an amazing storyteller. He loved to tell scary stories around the campfire, stories of his youthful shenanigans, and stories with lessons from which we could all learn.

He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.

A private memorial mass was held at St. Gregory, the Great Church in Bluffton.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in John’s memory to the Mayo Clinic, where John received expert care for several years; Amedisys Hospice, which made it possible for him to rest comfortably at home; or the charity of your choice.

https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC

https://www.amedisys.com/about/foundation/