Bill Rohde

Harold William (Bill) Rohde, 99, was welcomed home on April 12, 2026.  Bill was born September 7, 1926 in Sauk County, Wisconsin to Hugo Richard and Gretchen Anna (Baars) Rohde. At the age of 17, he falsified his age to enlist in the Navy to join the war effort. He served on the USS San Diego CL-53, until the end of WWII.  He then moved to Kansas City, Missouri to attend school to become a radio operator.

He met Mary Jane Cox of Kansas City, Missouri and was married. He then took a job as a disc-jockey in Montana, then moved back to Kansas City to be near his in-laws. He eventually took a job with TWA and became lead mechanic, he retiring after 40 years at TWA. They had 2 children, Beth Ann and John, as well as adopting and raising his grandson, Brian. After Mary Jane's death, he married Janice Elaine Hestand Van Dyke of Kansas City Missouri. They enjoyed travelling and spending time with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill enjoyed his breakfast at McDonalds with his retiree friends and liked to tease with "Wisconsinisms" like cow squeezins for milk. He never traveled without his tool chest, he liked to be prepared for whatever might be needed. He loved the Kansas City Chiefs as well as the Kansas City Royals. He was a man of deep faith and worked with his church, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church of Excelsior Springs, Missouri.  

Bill was preceded in death by his parents in his youth; his first wife, Mary Jane; his sister, Dorothy Rohde Tooley; and granddaughter, Lisa Rohde.

Bill is survived by his wife, Janice; children, Beth Ann Rohde of Excelsior Springs Missouri, John (Brenda) Rohde of Marshall Missouri, and Brian Lee (Tiffany) Rolls Rohde of Leavenworth KS; step-children, Sherry (Joel) Austin of St. Louis Missouri and Pamela (Jim) Spencer of Newport News Virginia; grandchildren, John (Christina) Rohde Jr. of Windsor Missouri, Heather Rohde of Marshall, Missouri, David (Heather) Rohde, Brian Rohde Jr., Karli Rohde, Lindsay Cayo, Myshell Fitzpatrick, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Rylee Fitzpatrick, Jordyn Fitzpatrick, Emaly Rohde, Kaylee Rohde, Bryan Rohde, Alyssa Rohde, Casey Rohde, Dallys Rohde, and Emily Rohde; step-grandchildren, Tara (Jeff) Staples of St. Louis Missouri, Ashley Austin of Mexico City, Mexico, and Courtney Waters of Kansas City, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Tanner Rohde, Emily Rohde, Lillian Rohde, Ryan Rohde, Josephine Rohde, and Carla Smith; and step-great-grandchildren, Mason Neenan Spencer, and Eleanor Staples.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday April 16, 2026 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church 1215 Baldwin St, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024, with Pastor Kirk Griebel presiding. Visitation will be at 10:00 am prior to the service. Burial will be at Allen Cemetery, 14451 SE State Hwy DD Gower MO 64454, after the reception, from 2:30-3:30.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt Calvary Lutheran Church, 1215 Baldwin St,, MO, Excelsior Springs, Missouri 64024, US, or online at https://www.mtcalvarylutheran.org/home.