Theodore A. Rohde (Ted), age 94, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away on Friday, May 17, 2024 at his residence, Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, with his beloved companion, Carla Farmer and his family by his side.
Ted was born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Theodore Ludwig and Frieda Harrigfeld Rohde. Ted graduated from Emerson, Nebraska High School in 1947. Ted was a Nebraska farm boy, headed to duty during the Korean conflict. He joined the United States Army in 1951 and was stationed in Germany and assigned to the 28th Infantry Division (G-2 Headquarters Section). While in Germany he also played on one of the army football teams.
Once back state side in 1953, he was offered a full scholarship to the University of Kansas to play football. During his four years at KU, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, set several national records and two KU records for punting including the longest punt of 84 yards. At KU, he was a proud member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, and was on the track team. Reflecting on Ted’s life the Kansas Athletic department said “Your life is an example for us all and you will forever be part of the Kansas Athletics fabric. Once a Jayhawk…Always a Jayhawk.” Ted often reflected to others that these were the best four years he could ever remember. It was a time in his life when he knew something great had happened.
After college, he was drafted to play football for the Chicago Cardinals, but that career ended earlier than he wished due to injury. Ted turned to his accounting degree to gain employment in the business world with Arthur Andersen & Company.
In 1957, Ted married Barbara Holladay and had 3 daughters: Teresa, D’Ann, and Gretchen. The family moved to South Bend, Indiana, where he found employment with Bell Intercontinental Corporation, later known as the Wheelabrator-Frye Group. Ready to retire at the age of 45, Ted turned to golf. He was very good at this sport and had a lot of fun teaching his girls how to play and drive the golf cart. Retirement wasn’t for him, he went back to the business world, helping struggling companies come back to be profitable entities. Armstrong Containers and Hiawassee were several of those companies. As Tom Rost, fraternity brother and lifelong friend recounts, “Ted was known by colleagues as a business resurrector.” Once again, he decided to retire, this time taking up tennis. Ted was great at every sport he played, always with that big green cigar in his mouth! He was a natural athlete and encouraged/mentored Carla’s grandsons in their sports/education and life.
In 2023, Ted had the privilege of being selected for an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. with a high school football player, Matthew Leistikow, as his honor flight travel companion. Ted was a member of the Fort Scott Elks Club, the Fort Scott Rotary Club and attended First Presbyterian Church in Fort Scott. Ted had a 14-year history of service on the Board of Royal Aloha Vacation Club as well as service on the Board of Eagles Nest, Branson, MO.
Ted is survived by Carla Farmer, his sister Marjorie Wyatt, Barbara Holladay Rohde, daughters Teresa Rohde (Bob Weaver), D’Ann Rohde (Dave Mathews) and Gretchen Oftedahl (Scott). Carla’s children, Christa Horn (John) and Ryan Farmer (Tran). Grandchildren, Christopher Rohde (Kim), Courtney Moore (Larry), Taylor Mathews (Mimi), Emma Mathews, Hunter Oftedahl and Cheyanne Oftedahl. Carla’s grandchildren Tucker Horn (Mollie), Hudson Horn and Sutton Horn. Great grandchildren Joshua Rohde, Luke Rohde, Josephine Moore and Anastasia Moore. He loved and was so proud of his numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who all lovingly referred to him as “Uncle Bud”.
Ted was preceded in death by his dear sister Dorothy and her husband Leo Andersen, his brother-in-law Albert Wyatt, his beloved brother Robert and his wife Sue Rohde, his son-in-law Thomas Herrero and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services will be held at Cheney Witt Funeral Home in Fort Scott, Kansas on Friday June 28, 2024, with visitation at 10:00am and committal service at the Fort Scott National Cemetery at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the KU Athletic Football Department or a charity of your choice and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.