Robert Rolfsen Sr.

Robert Joseph Rolfsen, Sr. Bob, 82, passed away on December 31, 2013, in Baton Rouge surrounded by his family. Visitation will be on Friday, January 3, 2014, from 6:00 PM till 8:00 PM at Resthaven Funeral Home and will continue the next morning beginning at 9:30 AM at St. George Catholic Church to be followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 AM celebrated by Reverend Michael Schatzle. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Rose M. Rolfsen of Baton Rouge, and their 7 children: Chuck Rolfsen wife Cassie of Lithia, FL Dr. Mike Rolfsen wife Jeannette Chris Rolfsen wife Marlene Suzanne Odom husband Cal of Alexandria, VA Rob Rolfsen wife Margaret of Nashville, TN Cathy Jackson husband Jon Beth Rolfsen of Doraville, GA. He greatly loved spending time with his 20 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren: Abigail Lenahan husband Sean and their son Finn, Alex, Andrew, Olivia, Madeline, and Peter Rolfsen Dr. Michael Rolfsen Jr. wife Maria and their son Jourdan, Melissa, Matthew, Mark, and Mary Rolfsen Brandon and Heather Rolfsen and her daughter Andree Jamie and Caroline Odom Robert and Meg Rolfsen Julia, Thomas, and Jon Aaron Jackson. Bob is also survived by his three brothers, Larry, Don and Jerry and two sisters, Jackie Jansen and Janet Kaiser all of northern Kentucky. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Larry and Edna Rolfsen. Bob was born in Erlanger, Kentucky, on December 1, 1931. He graduated from Villa Madonna College in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. He went on to serve his country as a member of the US Navy and continued his service as a member of the Naval Reserves for 32 years, retiring with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. He met and married the love of his life, Rose Marie Schwartz in 1951. They moved to Baton Rouge in 1968 and Bob worked for the US Public Health Service for more than 45 years serving as Deputy Director of the Regional Hansens Disease Program in Carville, LA. He codeveloped and served as the Director of the Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Program. After his retirement in 1999, he was active with the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association NARFE and held several local, state and national offices with NARFE. He was also the National President of the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association NERA and was editor of The Mariner, a NERA national monthly publication. He was active with the Baton Rouge Food Bank, the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, and was president of the Lay Senate of the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge and the Boy Scouts of America. He was Chairman of the Board of the Louisiana Affiliate for the American Diabetes Association and Chief of the Diabetes Advocacy Task Force. He was a 1995 graduate of Leadership Baton Rouge. Bob was a parishioner of St. George Catholic Church and was a member of the Choir from 1972 to 2008. He loved his annual family beach vacations, gardening, and spending time with the Friday Night Bunch Gertrude and Charles Cramer, Karen and Errol Gautreau and Ednice and Lee Savoy, with whom he and Rose got together every Friday night for over 30 years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, brother and friend to all and will be missed greatly. Bobs life was truly epitomized by his standard response to the question of how he was doing: Absolutely awesome His pallbearers will be Alex Rolfsen, Michael Rolfsen, Brandon Rolfsen, James Odom, Robert Rolfsen, III, and Thomas Jackson. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Friday Night Bunch. The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses and staff of St. Joseph Hospice, Carpenter House for their kindness, compassion and gentle care given to Bob and his family during their time of need. Special thanks also to Dr. Vince Tumminello and Dr. Gerald Miletello. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Vincent de Paul or the Baton Rouge Food Bank.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Friday, January 3, 2014
6 pm 8 pm

Service

Vistiation

St. George Catholic Church
7808 St. George Drive
Baton Rouge, LA  70809
Saturday, January 4, 2014
9:30 am 11:30 am

Mass of Christian Burial

St. George Catholic Church
7808 St. George Drive
Baton Rouge, LA  70809
Saturday, January 4, 2014
11:30 am