William Paul (Bill) Rohrbach

Posted

(Dec. 23, 2007)

Funeral services will be conducted today (Thursday), Jan. 3, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cody for William Paul (Bill) Rohrbach, Cody attorney and former state legislator, who died at his home Sunday, Dec. 23, due to a sudden cardiac event.

He was born in Chicago, Ill., Feb. 24, 1943, to Raeburn and Delores Rohrbach. His love of music began at a young age. Bill was selected for the Moline Boys Choir in grade school. He was first-chair violinist while in junior high and high school. Besides music and his studies, he spent his school days completing many practical jokes. Bill joined the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division after finishing high school.

While in junior high school, he first saw the love of his life, Peggy Paulos. He actively pursued her at age 20 and married her two years later. He continued his lifelong passion for music in a rock and roll band, called “The Disciples,” while studying at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa.

After the birth of their first daughter, Victoria, Bill and Peggy moved to Laramie. In 1969, they celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Sara. Bill completed his law degree at the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1972. He and Peggy then moved to Cody, where they had their last child, Nicholas, in 1975.

Bill was such a warm, energetic, happy individual, who was so much a part of lives of his wife, children, grandchildren and friends, that they are still unsure how to fill the void that he has left. What a life Bill lived in Cody, and how many lives were touched over the last 32 years!

Bill was an altruistic person who had a passionate outlook on life with an unending source of energy to positively affect those around him. He taught his family how to love and play music, strive for success, help others around them and keep God as a focus in their lives. Every day in Bill’s life was lived with gusto, a ready smile and friendly disposition.

Bill had so many accomplishments during his lifetime. He was proud to be a Rotarian and looked forward to performing in the annual shows. Bill got into politics with the local school board, was on the board at Northwest College and later represented Park County in the Wyoming State House of Representatives. He was on the Board of Trustees at West Park Hospital, an active founder of the Yellowstone Jazz Festival and in multiple musicals and committees around the community. Every facet of life that he touched, he gave 100 percent of himself and became a vital member of the group.

Family members will remember they learned from Bill how to laugh, love life to the fullest, eat well and play music often. Bill and Peggy shared 42 years enjoying adventurous travel, fine wine, great food and many wonderful jam sessions with family and friends.  They will always remember his warm and loud belly laugh, his endless stream of jokes, his strong bass voice and his infinite energy encompassing all those around him.  They are confident he lives on in heaven and in every life that he touched.

His legacy continues through his  lifelong companion and wife, Peggy Rohrbach of  Cody; and his children, Tori Radosevich and husband (Dr. Tom) and children Natasha, Samuel, Benjamin and Max  of Casper; Dr. Sara Nyquist and husband (Sverre) and children Hanna, Sofia and Espen of Billings; and Nick Rohrbach and wife (Morgan) and children Simi and Maggie of Bainbridge Island, Wash.  Other survivors include his three siblings and their families, Roger and Sally Rohrbach of Payson, Ariz.,  Rev. Dick and Deanna (Rohrbach) Rossow of St. Louis, Mo., and Steve and Shawna Rohrbach of Lyons, Colo.

For those who wish, a community memorial fund has been established at Shoshone First, Pinnacle, and First National Banks in Cody.

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