Helen and John von Rohr

VON ROHR, HELEN AND JOHN 1916-2005. After 65 years of marriage Helen and John von Rohr died on Jan. 15 and Jan. 31, 2005 in Portland. Helen and Jack met the summer after college as counselors at a Congregational Church camp in their home state of Minnesota. They married in June 1939 and, after living in Chicago, Connecticut and Claremont, Calif., they lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 46 years. Three years ago they moved to Oregon to be near family. John grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1937. He attended theological seminary at the University of Chicago and later received his Ph.D. from Yale University. He became a minister and a professor who taught church history at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif., for 27 years. John was a scholar who wrote books on the history of Protestantism, Puritan theology, and the history of American Congregationalism. He was an avid follower of the news and supported many political and humanitarian causes. Helen grew up in St Paul and graduated from Macalister College in 1937. She taught piano and was a lover of art and of traveling. She was a life-long learner and an avid reader, particularly of biography and modern fiction. Helen took great interest in history and politics and supported numerous social causes, particularly those related to the environment. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Both John and Helen were devoted to their family. Helen and Jack are survived by their children, Susan Scaff and Carl von Rohr; their granddaughters, Janine and Rosalyn Scaff and Heather and Claire von Rohr; and their great-grandson, Rowan Cahill. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, 4715 N.E. 106th Avenue, Portland, OR 97220. The family requests that remembrances be made to Adventist Health/Hospice, c/o Adventist Medical Center, 10123 SE Market Street, Portland, OR 97216.