Ted Rohwein

Theodore “Ted” Rohwein passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Ted was born on the family farm in Oregon, November 17, 1933, to George and Katherine Rohwein. Ted and his siblings moved to Bremerton when his father was given a job at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) during the 2nd World War. He attended Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School and graduated from Bremerton High School in 1952. Ted attended Washington State College for one year and played on the football team as a lineman. He returned home to complete his studies at Olympic College prior to being drafted into the Army. Ted married the love of his life, Sandra Wenzlick, on April 7, 1956 and shared that union for over 61 year until Sandra passed in 2017.

Following his Army career that took him to Albuquerque, NM, Ted returned to Bremerton and worked at the local Standard Oil service station until moving the family to Quincy, WA where he worked in the grocery business until taking a job as an Engineering Technician with the Bureau of Reclamation in Ephrata, WA. Disenchanted with his federal employment opportunities, he took a job as an Electrical Apprentice for Tobin Electric in Quincy. Completing his apprenticeship, he became a journeyman electrician and found his lifetime calling. While working as a service electrician in Quincy, Ted found the love of bird hunting with his German Shorthaired Pointer, Brownie, who joined him on his service calls, hunting his way home during the bird hunting seasons.

Wanting to be closer to extended family, Ted left his job in Quincy to return to Bremerton. He worked for a while with a local electrical firm and then Ted and Sandra established their family business, Rohwein Electric Inc, in 1972. The successful family business touched the lives of most of the local electricians throughout the 37 years they ran the business - providing training and mentorship to many electricians and quality electrical services to all customers. They always believed in the “Customer comes First” motto. As a Board Member for the National Electrical Contractor Association, Ted helped guide the local electrical market through his efforts on behalf of Seattle/Bremerton/Port Angeles contractors in partnership with the Local 46 Electrical Union. Ted resigned from the Board when they sold Rohwein Electric in 2009 to VECA Electric, Inc. In their well-deserved retirement, Ted and Sandra traveled throughout the United States in their motorhome with family and friends. Their favorite place to travel was to the family farm in Oregon. When they were not traveling, Ted and Sandra were fixtures at their children and grandchildren’s athletic and school events.

Ted was a fan of all sports and could be found listening to games on the radio as well as television. No family road trip was complete without listening to a ballgame on the car radio. One of the original members of the Kitsap Athletic Roundtable, Ted actively promoted athletic opportunities for Kitsap County youth and amateur athletes. He provided financial support to multiple youth and adult athletic programs in Bremerton through his business as well as personally. His financial generosity as well as devoting countless volunteer hours to sports programs/events earned him the coveted Rex Brown Award for Distinguished Service and induction into the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He was inducted into the HOF again as a team member of the 1951 Bremerton High School football team in 2013. Ted was an avid fan of all professional and college athletic programs in the state of Washington, especially Mariner Baseball, Gonzaga Basketball, University of Washington Football, and the Seattle Seahawks. He also provided backing and fan support when sons Jim and Mark got involved in local stock car racing.

Ted was a consummate outdoorsman, having loved pheasant, duck, and goose hunting in Eastern Washington, as well as taking a hand at deer hunting with his sons Jim and Doug and son-in-law Barry. All that knew him, knew he loved to fish for salmon, halibut, and trout, going on many trips throughout Washington State, Alaska, and Canada with family and friends alike.

Ted is survived by his children Jodee Strickland (Barry), Mark (Sherine), and Jim (Susan); seven grandchildren, Scott, Nicole Aiken (Tim), Christopher (Amelia), Kelsey Weatherly (Nick), Brianna, Jack Hannah, Erin, Katie; and five great-grandchildren, Caleb, Nolan, Harper, Palmer, Shaw; brother Ray Rohwein, sisters Mary Smith, Shirley Ehlinger, and Rosemarie Johnston. He was preceded in death by his wife Sandra; son Douglas; parents, George and Katherine Rohwein; brother Charlie, sisters Christine Bojarski and Dorothy Amos.

Funeral services will be held at Star of the Sea Church, 6th & Veneta in Bremerton on Wednesday, March 16th. Rosary at 10:30 AM, funeral mass at 11:00 AM, reception following at the Elks Club, 4131 Pine Road NE in Bremerton. The family requests no flowers. Memorials can be made to Kitsap Athletic Roundtable, PO Box 414, Tracyton, WA 98393 so the family can continue his legacy of providing opportunities to Kitsap County youth.