Charles Cleese Obituary

Tom was born at home in Colorado Springs, on April 22, 1922, one of four children of a pioneer family. He passed away on May 25, 2009, at the age of 87, after several years of deteriorating health. Tom grew up in and around the Pikes Peak region. He graduated from Colorado Springs High School and attended Western State College until the outbreak of World War II. He fought with valor as a tank crewman with the 753rd Tank Battalion in many European campaigns, including North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. After the war, Tom returned home and operated several local businesses, including wheat harvesting in season. In 1955, Tom went to work in the Civil Engineering Department of the newly opened Air Force Academy, where he remained until retirement in 1980. Tom married the former Alice Hubbell of Glendale, California in 1947, and they were constant loving companions for 49 years until Alice’s passing in 1996. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Clarlyn Cummer. Tom is survived by his daughter; Gayle Lidh and husband, Bill, of Colorado Springs; his sons: Richard Rohrbach and wife, Nancy of Key Largo, Florida; and Charles Rohrbach and wife, Sandra of Aurora, Colorado; sisters: Agnes Paulsen and husband, Forrest and Wilma Biegelsen and husband, Lew of Colorado Springs; as well as ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Tom epitomized the spirit of his Colorado pioneer family; he was a widely respected businessman and good friend. Above all, Tom was a decent and honest man who will be dearly missed by all who knew him. A visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, May 29 at the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home. A service of remembrance will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful� Chapel. Private entombment will follow at the Mausoleum. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Sterling House at Briargate and of Odyssey Hospice for their careful and affectionate attention. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Tom’s name to Odyssey Hospice, 4465 Northpark Drive, Suite 400, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907.