Francis Henry Rottinghaus was born June 12, 1892 in St Benedict Kansas to Bernard H. and Anna Stegeman Rottinghaus. He was the second child/oldest son of 8 children in the family. He attended St Mary’s Catholic School while in St Benedict but moved with parents and siblings to a farm southwest of Kelly in 1900.

Henry passed away at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Monday December 27, 1993 at age 101 after residing in nursing homes, most recently Eastridge Nursing Home in Centralia, since April 1984. He was a favorite of the staff due to his sense of humor and gift of laughter. He retired from farming and carpentry but lived on the farm he owned until he sold it to his oldest son in 1984. He served as director of Farmers State Bank in Corning for many years as well as being a member of St Bede’s Catholic Church of Kelly since 1900.

Magdalen Steinlage became his bride April 6, 1921 at St Bede’s and to this union 10 children were born. Magdalen died August 30, 1944 at St Margaret’s Hospital In Kansas City, KS where she was found to have a brain tumor. Their married life was spent farming south of Kelly.

Henry had extended family in Germany and enjoyed making trips to the Osterfeine area to see his family and speak his fluent German. He adopted a Chihuahua dog “Willie” for company after his children had moved away from home as well as having “Duke” an outside collie dog. He had several Chihuahua dogs over the years with all of them named “Willie”

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Alvin, Joe, and Frank as well as sisters Mary Lierz, Emma Ronnebaum, Anna Korte, and Dora Hutfles. His son Edwin preceded him in death December 2, 1990.

Survivors include sons Bernard of Corning, Clarence of Netawaka, Marcellus of Overland Park, and Ray of Seneca. Surviving daughters include Rita Gockel of Shawnee, Helen Lierz of Seneca, Rose Heiman of Axtell, Mary Sieben of Prairie Village and Dorothy Hammes of Seneca as well as 30 grandchildren and 25 great- grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Wednesday at St Bede’s in Kelly with burial to follow at St Bede’s Catholic Cemetery in Kelly. Rosaries will be recited at 2 and 7 PM at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to St Bede’s Cemetery in Kelly, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca or Eastridge Nursing Home in Centralia.