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Dr. Kearns Obituary
TüBINGEN, GERMANY — The Reverend Dr. Rollin Thompson Kearns passed away December 4, at age 82 in Tübingen, Germany.
Rollin, with his wife Heidi constantly by his side, has fought Alzheimer's disease for the last five years.
He was very fond of his extended family in both the United States and Germany. Visiting with them was always a high priority. He also leaves behind many special friends and former students whose lives he touched.
Although born in Pittsburgh, PA, he grew up in Wauwatosa, WI. He graduated in philosophy from Harvard University in 1959. He won a Rotary Scholarship, which allowed him to continue his studies in theology in Marburg, Göttingen and Tübingen (Germany). He was awarded a PhD in Theology from the University of Tübingen.
From 1966 until his retirement in 2010 he taught New Testament in the Religion Department at Ohio Wesleyan. Rollin enjoyed working with his OWU colleagues, sharing his knowledge with the students, supporting and working on university events. During his breaks from teaching, he would continue his research at Tübingen University, publishing widely in the field of Christology.
He was predeceased by his parents Bishop Francis and Alice Kearns, his sister Margaret Kearns Baldwin, his brother Francis (Bud) Kearns and his sister-in-law Sigrun Sperl.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Heidi, brother-in-law Richard (Randi) Baldwin, sister-in-law Janet Kearns, nieces: Mary (Scott) Raffo, Elizabeth (Jeff) Steinheider, Joan (John) Hafner and Claudia Sperl, nephews: Robert (Misty) Baldwin and Alexander (Christine) Sperland; eight delightful great-nieces and nephews.
The family is planning a memorial service in Tübingen, Germany on December 20th, 2019.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Ohio Wesleyan University, Memorial Gifts, 61 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, Ohio 43015. Please mention Rollin's name with the donation. Cards may be sent to: Dr. Heidi Kugler Kearns, care of: Maureen Reese at the above address.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Dr. Kearns
4 Entries
David Swanson
April 2, 2024
When we moved to Wisconsin, I was 7 years old. When we chose a home to rent in Wauwatosa, known for its excellent schools, and visited various Protestant churches before choosing to join Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist, pastored by Dr. Kearns. We soon came to admire the entire Kearns family as well as Associate Pastor Rev. Roy Deming and the Deming family. They are permanent and much-admired folks in my memory, as they were with my now-deceased parents, Carl and Evelyn Swanson. And it was good++++ to see the Gosselink name, too: more great people and fond memories.
Robert N. Gosselink
September 3, 2020
Rollie and I grew up together at Wauwatosa Methodist. I was very fond of th whole family. I remember Alice’s father dying of Alzheimer's in the parsonage next to the church. My sister Mary accompanied him in playing Brahms’ Concerto and developing a boil on his neck practicing the Tchaikovsky the next year. Rollie and I studied together for the Local Preacher’s License in the summer of 1955, but each of us became professors instead. I spent my career in the University of Waterloo English Department. I lost my wife last October after 59 lovely years, so I can appreciate Heidi’s loss.
My condolences.
Bob Gosselink
Frank and Kathy Michels
December 16, 2019
Dear Heidi,
We send our heartfelt sympathy on the passing of your beloved Rollin into the arms of His Heavenly Father. His Faith was his life and with you by his side it was indeed a life well lived.
We had the pleasure of knowing Mary, Liz an Joan's revered Uncle
Rollie as a fun, loving, warm and generous man. One of their very special moments was when he brought Aunt Heidi into their lives. What joyful times we were fortunate enough to witness and share as our neighbors and dear friends, Bud and Janet, so happily embraced you both as a most important pillar of their family. You gave their girls so much support by being there for them on so many special
moments in their lives. Our children were blessed, by extension, to
witness the love that the Kearns family had for each other.
Know that our hearts and prayers will be with you, Heidi, and our dear Janet and family, as you honor and celebrate Rollin's beautiful life in its fullness of Christ-centered purpose.
Kathy and Frank Michels, Kristin and David
Lisa Leech
December 13, 2019
We send our condolences to the family of Dr. Kearns! We had much respect for him when he was our Religion professor at O.W.U.
Take care,
Steve and Lisa ( Foster) Leech
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