M. Alpheus Rohrer

M. Alpheus Rohrer, 90, North Manchester, IN, died December 26, 2012 at 9:15 p.m. at Wabash County Hospital, Wabash, IN. He was born January 10, 1922 on a farm near North Lima, OH which is near Youngstown. His father, Samuel E. Rohrer, was a dairy farmer and his mother, Mary (Martin) Rohrer, a homemaker. He had an older brother, Abram, and an older sister, Kathryn. His favorite memory of childhood is making maple syrup. He attended grades 1-8 at the Eureka one room school in Beaver Twp., Mahoning County, OH. Alpheus graduated from Columbiana High School in 1940. He had many farm chores at home so he had no time for school activities, although he did participate in a spelling bee. From 1946-1950, Alpheus attended Manchester College, North Manchester, IN. He was in the German Club, and worked as a dish washer, using a machine! He graduated with a BA in Secondary Education in 1950. He earned a Master's degree in Agriculture at Ohio State University, and a Master's in Physics and Chemistry from Penn State. During youth meetings at the old Walnut Street Church of the Brethren, North Manchester, IN, he met Alice Rupel. They were married on July 1, 1950 in the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren, east of North Liberty, IN. Their four children are: Stanley (Drema) Rohrer, Beavercreek, OH; Edith Rohrer, Warsaw, IN; Thelma (James Adams) Rohrer, North Manchester, IN; and Norman (Melinda) Rohrer, San Jose, CA. They have four grandsons, Scott (Kaitlin) Rohrer, Todd (Danielle) Rohrer, Nate Rohrer and Luke Rohrer. Alpheus farmed for 6 years after high school, left for 9 years, then came back and taught school as well as doing farming for a few years. He then rented the fields and continued teaching physics and chemistry for a total of 34 years. He retired in 1988 from South Range High School, North Lima, OH. Alpheus was a 'sea-going cowboy' for the Brethren during January-February of 1946, going to Poland. The family took an RV trip to the western US states in 1972 and he made a trip to Europe in 1989 to visit a Brethren exchange student in Heidelberg, Germany. He has been a delegate to Annual Conference 8 times, and to District Conference 5 times. His favorite place is 'home'! When Alpheus and Alice moved back to North Lima, they built an apartment onto the farm house and took care of his parents, Grandpa for 8 years, Grandma for 20 years. Alpheus has done a lot of church work, including being the local moderator for 5 years, a church board member for 19 years, a life deacon for 55 years. He also was a SS Superintendent, VBS teacher, Camp Inspiration Hills committee member for 12 years, and a member of the Beaver Twp. Ruritan Club for 24 years. Alpheus is a member of the Zion Hill Church of the Brethren, Columbiana, OH, attending the Manchester Church of the Brethren congregation. He moved to North Manchester, IN on October 1, 2010, from North Lima, OH. The memorial service for Alpheus Rohrer is on Saturday, December 29, 2012 in the Timbercrest Chapel, 2201 East Street, North Manchester, IN at 3:00 p.m. with visitation from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Pastor Karen Eberly will officiate. A memorial service this summer at Zion Hill Church of the Brethren, will be announced at a later date. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery, Columbiana, OH. Arrangements entrusted to McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 W, North Manchester, IN. For those who wish to honor the memory of M. Alpheus Rohrer, memorial gifts may be given to Heifer Project International, PO Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203 or Manchester University, 604 E. College Ave., North Manchester, IN 46962. To send a private condolence to the Rohrer family, use the Condolence link on the Homepage.