Joseph H Rohs

Joseph Herman Rohs, Joe and "Papa Joe", passed away quietly on Sunday, April 30 in Vero Beach, Florida at the age of 88. Joe was born April 7, 1935, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Cynthiana, Kentucky, and St. Louis, Missouri. Joe is survived by his wonderful and loving wife, Jeanne McDaniel Rohs, and her children, Molly (Paul), Mike, Kevin (Sarah), Brigid (Jimmy), and PJ (Jen), and fifteen grandchildren. Joe is survived by his children Claire, Matt, and Mark (Joan), nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Joe is also survived by his siblings Julie O'Donnell (Bill), Jeanne Macheca, and Charles von Brecht (Cathy) along with their children and grandchildren.
Joe spent his early years in his beloved Cynthiana, KY, where his grandparents owned the local Rohs Opera House. Joe's mother, Gertrude Hummell Rohs, and father, Karle Hermann Rohs, raised their 3 children together until Karle passed away when Joe was seven years old. When Joe was eleven, Gertrude "Gaga" married Charles von Brecht and the family moved to St. Louis. Joe would often tell stories of how his St. Louis grade school friends would want him to count to five so they could hear his Kentucky accent over and over. Joe lived the rest of his life in St. Louis, attending Our Lady of Lourdes grade school and St. Louis University high school and continuing his studies at the University of Notre Dame. He proudly displayed his ND 57 license plate on his Pontiac Bonneville for 20 years. After Notre Dame, he returned to St. Louis and continued his career working at Lorillard Tobacco Company, Dempsey Tegler, Centerre, Boatmens's, and St. Louis Union Trust, retiring from Bank of America in 2000.
Douglas, Michigan was Joe's home away from home his maternal grandfather purchased property on Lakeshore Drive in 1917 and Joe and his siblings spent summers in Douglas away from the heat of St. Louis. Joe would often talk of his summer job in Douglas delivering milk early in the morning and purposely backfiring his milk truck to wake up his still-sleeping friends. Joe was a part of the St. Louis at Douglas golf tournament for many years. Later in life, he was the proud co-owner of "Rohsingham Cottage." His summers in Douglas were a fond memory for him.
Joe loved "the market" and would always advise "buy low sell high." He played the lottery and loved a good bacon sandwich on rye bread. He also loved to play gin rummy and even as his memory failed him, he could still beat everyone but Jeanne in a game of gin. They spent their last years together in Vero Beach, Florida.
A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, May 28th at 11:30 AM at Ware Funeral Home. Father Niby Kannai will officiate the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rohs Opera House, 133 E Pike Street, Cynthiana, KY 41031. View and sign the guestbook www.warefuneralhome.com.