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Rohner, Thomas Edward
Thomas Edward Rohner, 62, of West Liberty, died Wednesday, March 16t 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. following complications from pancreatic cancer.
Born Dec. 10, 1948, in Muscatine, Iowa, to John and Virginia Rohner, Tom graduated from West Liberty High School, and attended the University of Iowa.
As a freshman in high school, he was invited to the Sadie Hawkins dance by Ruth Carlisle of Atalissa, Iowa, and on Nov. 19, 1967, Tom and Ruth were united in marriage.
Tom's entrepreneurial passion led him to patent the electronic digital odometer in 1974. He owned and operated Digital Sport Systems in West Liberty, which developed the odometer used by sport rallying and Canadian truck drivers and the new Digital Super RF Amateur Amplifiers. Following that, he owned and operated Advanced Informatics Ltd, in West Liberty, building Informer2 computers. From 1988 to 2005, Tom held the position of Chief Java architect at Hewlett-Packard Company/Compaq (fka. Tandem Computers) Cupertino, Calif., and was a member of the board of directors for the Objects Management Group representing HP. Most recently, Tom was employed as a senior SOA architect at Pearson's in Iowa City. Outside of his employment, he enjoyed working on the advancement of inexpensive, renewable energy technology with his brother, Bob.
Tom was the first pancreatic cancer patient treated by the Immunovative Therapies Limited, a protocol aimed at killing cancer. He overcame incredible odds and challenges, no doubt through his strength and perseverance.
He will lovingly be remembered by his wife, Ruth; his children, Carrie Marin (Kurt Nilsson) of Cedar Rapids, Stacey Hollingsworth of Denver, Colo., and Thomas Rohner (Elizabeth) of Ely; grandchildren, Kyle, Karissa and Alex Marin, Grace and Jack Hollingsworth, and coming soon, Addison Rohner; his beloved “girls” dogs, Brandi and Kylie; his siblings, John, Robert (Jan) Rohner of West Liberty, and Elizabeth (Jimmy) Clark of Maine; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 25, at Henderson Barker Funeral Home, West Liberty. Services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Church United, West Liberty.
Online condolences can be expressed at .
A memorial fund has been established.
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