Kent G. Rothrock

Kent G. Rothrock, age 85, of Sugar Grove, Illinois, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 19, 2024 at home surrounded by his loving family. 

He was born February 27, 1939, in Robinson, Illinois, the son of Olaf and Christine (Deverick) Rothrock.

As a child he watched planes flying from a nearby Army Air Force bomber training airfield.  Soon he had his mother twirling in a circle, clutching its string and flying a toy plane as Kent clapped with joy.  Later he had a better view of flying when the local Heath boys, as in the Heath Bars we still eat today, received a plane.

After graduating from Robinson High School where he ran track, he enrolled in the University of Illinois where he drank beer with his Zeta Psi fraternity brothers, enjoyed campus life and earned a degree in accounting.  Timing wasn’t right to be able to go into the corporate world and he joined the Air Force to fulfill his dream of flying.

His first assignment was Reese Air Base in the Panhandle of Texas and very different from the farms and corn fields at home.  Lubbock was a flat land of big skies, sandstorms and tumbleweeds.  This is where he met his wife Ann.  The Air Force took them the Evreux France and Lockbourne AFB in Columbus Ohio. 

Settling in Naperville, IL, Kent flew for and retired a Captain of American Airlines, preferring long runways in warm climates.

A lifelong tinkerer Kent used his VA benefit to learn electronics and built his own Heathkit television.  He bought early Radio Shack and IBM computers, etched his own circuit boards, converted an IBM Selectric typewriter into a printer, and created a text to speech system he named Eliza.  He built a database system for the Naperville Heritage Society where Ann volunteered as a Weed Lady.

He is survived by his wife 61 years Anna Marie Balzer; son, Scott A. Rothrock and wife Lisa of Broadlands, VA; daughter, Cathleen Bushman and husband William of Geneva, IL; grandchildren, Derek and Natalie Rothrock and Riley and Haddie Bushman. He leaves an extended family of very special friends.

Interment was held at Sugar Grove Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life will be held November 22 in Sugar Grove.

Arrangements handled by Malone Funeral Home in Geneva.  For information 630-232-8233 or visit malonefh.com.

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