His wife, Janet Rolfes, and the little boy were shocked to see the Purple Heart and Silver Star.
“He never talked about the war,” his wife said. “He was very modest.”
Now, especially after Rolfes, 93, died Jan. 16 in Aiken, S.C., Janet Rolfes said she’s grateful her husband eventually shared his WWII stories with his family, and she hopes other veterans follow suit.
Rolfes, a 1939 Cincinnati Purcell High School graduate, attended the University of Cincinnati for four years, and was drafted into the United States Army in 1943 while a college engineering student. He was assigned to the infantry and shipped across the Atlantic on Mother’s Day 1944. He landed on Omaha Beach and his unit joined Gen. George Patton’s 101st Division in its march to the Rhine and the Battle of the Bulge began the next day.
On April 13, 1945, Rolfes’ group was hit by grenades, and he was credited with saving the lives of 17 soldiers in his unit. For those heroic actions, he received the two distinguished medals.
After he was discharged, Rolfes trained in optometry, graduated from the College of Optometry State of Illinois and practiced in Middletown for 50 years.
“He loved practicing,” his wife said.
They met after their spouses passed away and they were married for 31 years. They moved to South Carolina nine years ago, and Rolfes soon was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his wife said. Up until that time, her husband always pulled out her chair at the dinner table.
“I will miss the respect he had for me and my family,” she said. “He was so respectful. He made me so happy.”
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. today at Holy Family Parish - St. John’s Church, 1405 First Ave. Visitation will be prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Middletown Combined Honor Guard. Attendees are invited to a reception at Wildwood Golf Club.
Janet Rolfes said her late husband’s medals, now framed, will be on display at his funeral.
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