Juliann Rockers

Juliann Rockers, age 90, of St. Martins, passed away peacefully December 16, 2020, due to COVID Pneumonia.

Juliann was born August 24, 1930, in Jefferson City, the daughter of the late Louis Aloysius Benne and Anna Regina (Schmidt) Benne.

She was a 1944 graduate of St. Martin School and a 1948 graduate of St. Peter's High School in Jefferson City, Missouri. During high school Juliann worked at Selmerparis Laundry and Cleaners.

After graduating high school, Juliann entered the School Sisters of Saint Francis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While there, she attended Alverno College and taught elementary school at Holy Redeemer. She then went on to teach in Chicago at Blessed Agnes. After several years in the convent and teaching she returned home to Jefferson City, Missouri as she felt God was calling her in a different direction.

Shortly after returning home she was reintroduced to Clarence William Rockers by his sister Ruth Rockers. On June 14, 1958, Clarence and Juliann were united in marriage. They were happily married for 51 wonderful years until Clarence passed away on November 15, 2009. They were blessed with six children: Mary Carol (Rockers) Schmid, Rose Ann (Rockers) Dussold, Bridget (Rockers) Engelbrecht, Gerard Rockers, Teresa (Rockers) Dusenberg, and Clarice (Rockers) Benke.

Juliann returned to college to study Elementary Education. She graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Education with certification in Remedial Reading and Special Education. She taught at St. Martin Parochial School, St. Peter's Elementary School in Jefferson City, Osage Bend Elementary School, Folk Elementary, Centertown Public School, and Jefferson City Public Schools.

She was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martins where she was a lector, director of worship, volunteered her time at St. Martin School with the younger children, taught Vacation Bible School, and PSR (Parochial School Religion) classes. She was involved in Social Concerns through Jefferson City Diocese, Prison Ministry - PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), and was a Girl Scout Leader. She was a former member of MSTA and NEA.

She and Clarence use to help lead the rosary at St. Martin Church at the 5 p.m. Mass.

Juliann and Clarence enjoyed lots of activities together including Jefferson City Orchestra performances and the Jefferson City Cantorum. But the thing they enjoyed most was babysitting for all their grandchildren and spending time with family. Juliann and Clarence loved them with their heart and souls.

Earth has lost one of the sweetest, kindest, caring, and loving persons you could know. Heaven gained an incredibly special angel. Our Mom went to be with the Lord, and we are sure she was delighted to be with the rest of her family.

For her family still here on earth our hearts are breaking. We always tell people that Mom is the epitome of love. To be honest Mom was easy to love. She is the most genuine person we have ever known and probably will ever know. She gave without a second thought, she loved unconditionally, she loved God and had such faith through a great many adversities, she loved her family with her heart and soul, she found beauty in everything. She always said, "I love you." Mom would bless people she just met by placing a cross on their foreheads and saying, "Jesus watch over and bless you", and her laugh! - always filled with happiness deep within her heart.

We can't tell you how many times we would drive down the road and she would point out something in the sky, trees etc. and proclaim its beauty but always give credit to God. She said God was a great painter. With the beauty she saw, Juliann loved to paint.

The world and all our family is better with her, but we suppose God needed Mom home. Even though this is difficult for us to comprehend right now, not having Mom with us we will all strive to be like Mom. We will put our sorrow in God's hands and have faith, like our Mom would.

She will be missed, always in our hearts, and never forgotten.

Survivors include four children, Rose Ann (John) Dussold, Jefferson City; Bridget (Steve) Engelbrecht, St. Martins; Gerard (Susie) Rockers, St. Martins; Teresa (Mike) Dusenberg, St. Martins; two sons-in-law, Dennis Schmid, Jefferson City; Sam Benke, Midlothian, VA; 14 grandchildren, Anna Schmid, Clarice Schmid, John A. Dussold, Erica A. Dussold, Jacob L. Dussold, Alicia Engelbrecht, Zachary Rockers, Abby Rockers, Ellie Rockers, Christian Dusenberg, Daniel Dusenberg, Nicholas Benke, Natalie Benke, Benjamin Benke; 7 great-grandchildren, Jaeli Dussold, Emma Dussold, Anna Dussold, Caitlyn Reyes, Gabrielle Reyes, Lena Reyes, Joshua Reyes; two sisters, Patty (Tommy) Whittle, Centertown, Betty Jo (Bill) Luebbering, St. Thomas; two brothers, Jerry (Carol) Benne, Centertown; Donnie (Mary Ellen) Benne, Centertown; and in-laws, Alvin Toebben, Marcella Crocker, Art (Judy) Rockers, and Mary Ann Rockers.

Preceding Juliann in death: her husband Clarence; her daughters Mary Carol Schmid and Clarice Benke; her grandson, Alexander Benke; her mother and father; her mother-in-law Rose (Ihler) Rockers and father-in-law, Clarence A. Rockers; siblings: Gene Benne, Ruth Schaefer, Laverne Toebben, Mary Lou Wieberg; in-laws: Deloris Hentges, Ruth Rockers, Laverne Tyree, Martha Geising; and Richard Rockers.

Private visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martins.

Private Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Martin Catholic Church with the Rev. Francis Doyle officiating. The service will be live-streamed for those who wish to watch remotely. The link can be found on Juliann’s obituary page under Tribute Wall at www.dulletrimble.com.

Burial will be in St. Martin Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Raymond Society or to Juliann’s family to be used for a future need at St. Martin’s Parish.

A public celebration of Juliann’s life will be held in the future following the COVID pandemic.

Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Those wishing to send condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.