01/22/2024

Obituary for Thomas F. Rospert

Former employee of Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home, father and father-in-law of Dan and Belinda Rospert, Owners and Funeral Directors of Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home

Thomas Frederick “Tom” Rospert, 88, formerly of Lakewood, OH and more recently of Wadsworth, OH began his new life in Heaven on Friday, January 19, 2024 surrounded by his wife Elaine, their three children, a daughter-in-law, three of his grandchildren and after speaking with each of his other loving grandchildren.

Mr. Rospert was born June 6, 1935 in Thompson Twp., OH to the late Theodore and Amelia (Frisch) Rospert. He was a graduate of Thompson High School. After having grown up in the country, walking five miles to school and back uphill both ways with cardboard in his shoes because the soles had holes in them, he enlisted and proudly served in the United States Army. One week after his marriage to Elaine, he shipped out to Japan, spending his first year of marriage in the Army Security Agency and wasn’t able to speak to his bride for a year. Upon his return stateside and discharge from the Army, Tom took a job with Bethlehem Steel in the Cleveland office. As the family grew, Tom became active with community groups. He was a former PTA president at Franklin Elementary School in Lakewood, was active with Indian Guides where he was awarded the title of Chief Loud Snore, and a former member of “The Group” in Lakewood. Tom took great pride in raising their children and being actively involved in their lives. He and Elaine were well traveled, with more than 30 trips to Mexico and always invited family and friends along.

After moving to Wadsworth, Tom began working alongside his son and daughter-in-law at Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home and was also a very active member of the Wadsworth Senior Center. He was a man of deep catholic faith and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he was an usher at Saturday Evening Mass.

He was preceded in death by one granddaughter that he will now get to see and hold, two brothers John and Joe Rospert, two sisters Rita Bender and Margaret “Margie” Loose.

Tom is survived by his loving wife, Elaine, (nee Warden) with whom he celebrated 65 years of marriage. Sons and daughters-in-law, Marc and Elaine Rospert of Delaware, OH, Dan and Belinda Rospert of Wadsworth, OH and daughter Cheryl Rospert of Cincinnati, OH. He is also survived by eight loving grandchildren that he was extremely proud of, each of whom he had a strong bond and special relationship with; Daniel (Samarchitha Magal M.D.) Rospert M.D., Thomas Rospert DDS, Elise Rospert, Grant (Breanna) Rospert, Colleen (fiancé Lukas Husmann) Rospert, Cameron (fiancé Ava Walker) Rospert, Gabrielle Buccino and Antonio Buccino. His brother and sister-in-law Bernard and Ina Rospert of Bellevue, OH and sister Mary Wetzel of Sandusky, OH along with 14 nieces and nephews of which he was a special father figure to Lynn Bender and Leigh Ann Cecil.

The Rospert family will receive friends 1-3pm and 5-7pm Thursday, January 25, 2024 at the Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home, 174 N. Lyman St., Wadsworth, OH where a prayer service will be held at 7
pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00am Friday, January 26, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 272 Broad St., Wadsworth with Fr. Joseph Labak Celebrant.

Tom will be laid to rest following the Mass at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, OH with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers Tom requested memorial donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, https://www.jdrf.org/.