Douglas Gerald Rother

Mr. Rother was born January 13, 1942, in Wolbach, Neb., to Henry and Ethel Rother. He was the oldest of eighteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rother. He attended school in Wolbach and graduated from Wolbach High School. He was an alumni of Wayne State College, where he obtained a degree in business.

He was united in marriage to Judith D. Cook at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wolbach, Neb., on March 27, 1965, and was her beloved husband for 45 years.

He served as a paratrooper member of 5th Special Forces Group (101st Airborne), 1st Special Forces in the United States Army from 1960-1963. After the military, he became a Nebraska State Trooper from 1967 to 1972 in Wayne, NE. Upon leaving the State Trooper, he completed his education at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE. He worked as a salesman for many years and finished his career in the US Postal Service in 2010.

Survivors include four sons and daughters-in-law, Tim Rother of West Covina, Calif., Todd and Jamie Rother, of Long Beach, Calif., and Terry and Jill Rother, of Chandler, Ariz, Brett and Ashley Rother of San Antonio, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Garey Gjerstad, of Chapman, Kan.; grandchildren, Linzy, Lacey and Lexie Rother, Tyler, Lauren and Jessica Gjerstad, Cassandra Rother, Taylor Rother and Caitlyn and Carly Rother; and great-grandchildren Kayla, Erik and Nicholas Rother, Maisyon Singleton, and Rocket Jones.

He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Ethel Rother; his wife Judy Rother; his brothers John and Edward Rother; his son Bradley Rother; and his granddaughter Brooklyn Rother.

Friends and family are invited to attend a vigil and rosary at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at Valley of the Sun Mortuary, located at 10940 E. Chandler Heights Road, in Chandler. The memorial service will be conducted at 12 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Scottsdale, Ariz.

He will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lauren’s Institute for Education (LIFE), Attn:Donations , 1305 S. Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296. Please include a note with your name , RE: Rother Family Donation, and contact information or call (480) 621-8361. LIFE is the program that supported the needs of one of Doug’s most cherished grandchildren, Brooklyn, and many other children with special needs. Its mission is “to improve the quality of life for people affected by disabilities through specialized, caring, and affordable services.”