John William Rosbrugh

John William Rosbrugh, 79, St. Louis, passed away on June 14, 2017, following a long illness. Born on June 9, 1038, to Marvin A. Rosbrugh and Elma L. (Nolte) Rosbrugh at their home in Rockville. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis (Headlee) Rosbrugh, four children: John Rosbrugh Jr. (Linda), of Columbia, MD; Wendel Rosbrugh (Tracey), of Independence; Teresa Keihn (Charles III), of St. Louis; and Angela Copeland Pilch (Brian) of St. Louis. He has 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is survived by three sisters – Lolis Rosbrugh of El Dorado Springs; Ruth Pendleton (Doug) of Joplin; and Mary Beth Benton (Stan) of Columbia; and one brother, James Rosbrugh (Karen) of Rockville. Two sisters preceded him in death, Marian Walker (Charles), and Marjorie Barnes (Vance). John has many surviving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He will be sadly missed by all the above who loved him very much.

John grew up in the Rockville area in southwest Missouri. His family were farmers and he loved that type of life very much. He moved with his family to El Dorado Springs for most of his high school years. When he finished high school, he attended college at Southwest Missouri State, now Missouri State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.

He married Phyllis Headlee of El Dorado Springs on June 6, 1958. They were able to celebrate their 59th anniversary on June 6, 2017. After college they lived a short time in St. Clair, before moving to St. Louis, where he spent the remainder of his life. He worked for 28 years as a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank. After retiring from the Federal Reserve System, he became very active in the Gideons International organization where he helped distribute hundreds of New Testaments and Bibles over the many years that he served. He was active in the national and state organizations as well as his own local group He taught a Bible Study class almost continually during the same time period and served as a Deacon at First Baptist Church Arnold as well.

He learned that he liked mission trips by going to Mexico several summers to teach young people while he was there. He served on eye glass mission trips as well. John loved his church and the Gideons with all his heart because he loved the Lord Jesus Christ and knew his heart was in the right place surving the lord in those capacities. One last thing he loved to do was go to his farm back home on Rockville. That made him very happy, because he always wanted to go back to his roots.

All of us will miss him dearly, but he is in heaven now rejoicing with the Angels and his pain is over. “Try not to be sad,” would be his message to each of you.

A service of celebration of his life was conducted June 21, at First Baptist Church, Arnold, with a graveside service of committal and interment on June 22, at the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Rockville. All arrangements were under the direction of Kirsch Funeral Home of St. Louis.