Obituary of Thomas Rohner
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West Liberty, Iowa
Thomas Edward Rohner, 62, of West Liberty, Iowa died on Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand following complications from pancreatic cancer.
Born December 10, 1948, in Muscatine, IA to John and Virginia Rohner. Tom graduated from West Liberty High School, and attended the University of Iowa.
As a freshman in high school, he was invited to the Sadie Hawkins dance by Ruth Carlisle of Atalissa, IA, and on November 19, 1967 Tom and Ruth were united in marriage.
Tom’s entrepreneurial passion led him to patent the electronic digital odometer in 1974. He owned and operated Digital Sport Systems in West Liberty which developed the odometer, used by sport rallying and Canadian truck drivers and the new Digital Super RF Amateur Amplifiers. Following that, he owned and operated Advanced Informatics, Ltd, in West Liberty, building Informer2 computers. From 1988-2005, Tom held the position of Chief Java Architect at Hewlett-Packard Company/Compaq (f/k/a Tandem Computers) Cupertino, CA, and was a member of the board of directors for the Objects Management Group representing HP. Most recently, Tom was employed as a Sr. SOA Architect at Pearson’s in Iowa City. Outside of his employment, he enjoyed working on the advancement of inexpensive, renewable energy technology with his brother Bob.
Tom was the first pancreatic cancer patient treated by the Immunovative Therapies Limited, a protocol aimed at killing cancer. He overcame incredible odds and challenges, no doubt through his strength and perseverance.
He will lovingly be remembered by his wife Ruth, his children, Carrie Marin (Kurt Nilsson) of Cedar Rapids, IA, Stacey Hollingsworth of Denver, CO, and Thomas Rohner (Elizabeth) of Ely, IA, grandchildren, Kyle, Karissa, and Alex Marin, Grace and Jack Hollingsworth, and coming soon – Addison Rohner, his beloved “girls” dogs Brandi and Kylie, his siblings John, Robert (Jan) Rohner of West Liberty, IA, and Elizabeth (Jimmy) Clark of Maine and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Henderson Barker Funeral Home, West Liberty on Friday, March 25th, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Services will take place on Saturday, March 26th at 11:00 a.m. at the First Church United in West Liberty. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery in West Liberty.