Joy Rohm

Joy Rohm, age 72, of Des Moines, Iowa and Scottsdale, Arizona, died at Hospice of the Valley's Sherman Home in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, December 29, 2007, after a prolonged battle with breast cancer and other health issues. She was intelligent, warm, kind and compassionate - an extraordinary woman who lived her life with integrity, style and courage. Joy was born on April 24, 1935 in Danville, KY, and moved to Indianapolis, IN, at the age of 12. She married Charles E. Rohm, a high school classmate from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis. They were married for 51 years. Although strong as individual people, their marriage was a uniquely close endeavor of love and nearly inseparable companionship. They lived in Des Moines for over 45 years, where they raised two daughters, Beth and Barbara. Her life was marked by a great breadth of experiences that she felt fortunate to have had. She loved to entertain and be entertained. Family was central in her life. She traveled far and wide with Chuck. She was political and opinionated, a leader and organizer. She prevailed with faith and great personal strength after the loss of her daughter Beth. She was extremely capable at whatever she was drawn to focus her energies on and was an active member of her community. She was a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa and served as Board Chairman. She served multiple terms on the Des Moines Housing Board. She was a Des Moines YWCA Board Member. Joy was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court to two terms as a non-lawyer member of the Iowa Board of Bar Examiners. She was a Founding Board Member of The Des Moines Public Library Foundation, and a Board Member of Hospice of Central Iowa Foundation. Joy was an ordained elder of Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. She was an active member and a president of her PEO chapter. As a young woman, she participated in politics locally and statewide, and managed two campaigns. Her work life was varied yet incorporated her talent for organizing and leading. She was an executive director of a state-wide association, and she then formed an association management business. She was also a Vice President of Membership for the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. She is survived by her husband Charles, daughter Barbara Rohm Rossa, son-in-law Brad Rossa, and granddaughters Anna and Ella Rossa, of Oak Park, IL, her sister Elizabeth Burmeister and brother-in-law George Burmeister of Carlsbad, CA, and lots of loving extended family and great friends. A memorial service will be held at 4pm. on Monday, January 7, 2008, at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 8050 E. Mountain View Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85258. A memorial service will also be held in Des Moines, Iowa, in the early summer, at a date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Hospice of Central Iowa, 401 Railroad Place, West Des Moines, IA 50265-4730, www.hospiceofcentraliowa.org, or Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, AZ.