John "Jack" Roth
June 15, 1925 — March 25, 2011
John "Jack" Joseph Roth, age 85, of Ottawa, passed away at 10:05 a.m. Friday, March 25, 2011 at Ottawa Regional Hospital and Healthcare Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM Tuesday at St. Patrick Church with Reverend Philip Halfacre celebrating. Interment will follow in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM Monday with prayers at 5:00 PM at Gladfelter Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be John E. and Matthew Roth, Steve and Steven Dotts, Barry and Ben Bernard. Jack was born June 15, 1925 at Ottawa, Illinois, a son of John Louis and Rose (Coleman) Roth. He married Ruth Ralrick November 29, 1945 at St. Columba Church in Ottawa. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth; four children, John P. Roth of Ottawa, Ruth Ann (Steve) Dotts of Spokane, Washington, Anton (Karen) Roth of Ottawa and Patricia (Barry) Bernard of Leland. He also leaves eight grandchildren, Cathy (Jack) Pearlman, Jennifer Dacier, John E. Roth, Angela (Fred) Nimke, Steven Dotts, Matthew Roth, Ben Bernard and Katie Bernard; five great-grandchildren, Alex Dacier, Zachary and Garrett Pearlman and Kaleb and Alaina Nimke; a sister, Mary Schmitt of Ottawa; and brothers, William (Jean) Roth of Benton, Kentucky and Robert (Shirley) Roth of Ottawa. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Joseph Roth and a great-grandson, Hunter Nimke. Jack was a member of St. Patrick Church in Ottawa. He retired from LOF in 1987. As a young man, Jack played baseball for the Ottawa Merchants and softball with LOF leagues. He was an avid golfer who spent many happy hours on the golf course. Other hobbies included playing euchre, vacationing, fishing in Wisconsin and spending time in casinos. Jack was a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan. He was an associate member of the Ottawa Navy Mothers Club. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family or to a charity of the donor's choice