Don Edward Rothweiler

Rev. Don E. Rothweiler of Ankeny, Iowa was received by his Lord on October 12, 2022. He was the son of John E. Rothweiler, Jr., a chemist and big band musician, and Marie Nadine (Farley) Rothweiler, a beautician and photo finishing technician. He was born May 16, 1951, in Belleville, Illinois, attended Jefferson elementary, West Jr. High, and Belleville Township High School East.

He was a graduate of Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois in 1973, and the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago in 1979. He was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the LCA Illinois Synod in June of 1979 and served St. Luke Lutheran Church, Sioux City, Iowa; Memorial Lutheran Church, Nevada, Iowa; Central Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa; Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa; Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fontanelle, Iowa; St. Paul Lutheran Church, State Center, Iowa; First Lutheran Church, Keokuk, Iowa; Grace Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa; Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Camdenton, Missouri; and Scandia Parish (Trinity Lutheran/ Alta, Iowa and Nain Lutheran Church, Newell, Iowa). After retiring in 2014, he also served as interim pastor at St. Paul, Martensdale, Iowa and St. John’s, Madrid, Iowa as well as serving as supply rector at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Des Moines, Iowa.

During his time of pastoral service, he completed coursework for the Doctor of Ministry degree at Lutheran School of Theology and received certifications from The Grace Institute for Spiritual Formation at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa and the Institute for Puppet, Clown, Mime, and Dance Ministry, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Pastor Don was also a part time stage actor, puppet creator and performer, and character voice talent. He enjoyed his work with a number of community and regional theaters, and most especially cherished his work at the Des Moines Community Playhouse and Iowa Stage Theater Company. For seven seasons, he was also part of the “Final Act Ensemble”, a touring group of senior actors presenting radio shows and popular music from the 30’s and 40’s.

He and spouse, Jayme, met in a production of “South Pacific” at the Ingersoll Dinner Theater in Des Moines and continued their creative work as puppeteers and storytellers at Renaissance Festivals, in church productions, and in regional workshops. Pastor was known for his historical recreations of such personalities as Dr. Martin Luther, George Frederick Handel, and Johann Sebastian Bach.

He served as tour leader for five tour groups to the Martin Luther cities in Germany and enjoyed on occasion leading and preaching at German church Services. He was a graduate of the Federal German Institute for Language and Culture at Passau, Germany.

Pastor Don is survived by his spouse, Jayme (Selland) Rothweiler, daughter, Ellen E. Rothweiler (Michael Moran), a rostered leader in the Southeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA, , son Mark J. Rothweiler who works in fraud protection with Wells Fargo and creates graphic art, and granddaughter Mable Jane Moran.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 517 SW Des Moines Street, Ankeny, Iowa on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and a service to follow at 11:00 a.m.

Interment will be held at a later date for the family only at the memorial garden at St. Luke Episcopal Church, Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, ELCA Disaster Relief, or the ELCA Fund for Leaders.


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