Joseph A. Rohacs

Joseph “Joe” A. Rohacs, 79, of Dowagiac, died Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.   A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center Street in Dowagiac with Pastor Melody Wallace officiating.  Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Clark Chapel.  Military Honors will be performed by local VFW Post #1855 and the United States Navy. Memorials may be made to Boy Scouts of America or the First Christian Church of Dowagiac. Those wishing to share a memory or leave a condolence of Joe online may do so at www.clarkch.com.  Joe was born March 30, 1936 in Chicago, IL to Joseph and Katherine (Ginder) Rohacs. He attended school in Dowagiac and graduated from Dowagiac Central High School in 1955. After graduating he served his country in the United States Navy for 12 years. He married Patricia Curtis on June 3, 1961 and they shared 54 years of marriage. They lived in Dowagiac and had three children. Joe worked a few years for Round Oak and Rudy Manufacturing Company in Dowagiac before spending 35 years at Bendix in South Bend, IN. In his spare time he enjoyed woodworking and making furniture for his family. He and Pat spent many summers camping and raising their children at Three Braves Campground. Scouting was Joe’s main interest. He was a scout master for Boy Scouts Troop #563 of Dowagiac for over 10 years. While a scoutmaster, he received the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award a scoutmaster can achieve. He also received Vigil Honors for Order of the Arrow. Joe’s two sons became Eagle Scouts under his leadership. Joe was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, the Masonic Lodge of Dowagiac #10, the York Rite and Knights Templar order. Joe is survived by his wife, Patricia of Dowagiac, MI; his three children, Charles of Lansing, MI, John of Chesterfield, MI and Judith Rohacs of Huston, TX. He is preceded in death by one brother, Larry and his parents.