Our loving husband, father, and papa, Joe Rothgery, and his twin sister, Linda, were born to David and Dolores Rothgery in San Francisco, CA, on March 27, 1960. He left us to be with his Lord and Savior as a result of cancer complications in the early morning of December 12, 2023, at his home in Glenn, CA. Our mother was by his side at his passing.

He grew up in several different places in Northern California, enjoying his childhood with his brother and sister, building tree houses, biking, fishing, and making a friend of whoever he came in contact with. He and his siblings went to a lot of different schools. The family moved to Orland, CA, and during this time they came in contact with the Mennonite Church in Glenn. They became members of the faith. In 1975, he lost his brother in a vehicle accident. This was a heartbreaking event that left him always longing to have a brother. He gained many brothers when he gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized into the church by Minister Robert Koehn, on August 19, 1979.

He went to work for Jerry Giesbrecht and soon fell in love with the farmer's daughter. He married me, Wendi Giesbrecht, on December 14, 1980. We started our life together living at the headquarters of the Koehnen Ranch, where he was employed for many years. Our four children were born to us during these years. Each one found a place  in our hearts.

Joe was a man with many and varied interests and abilities. A look around his yard tells an amazing story about this. He could build anything and fix anything.  He never spent much money on the things he acquired; he loved trading or exchanging advantageously. He was known to some as "Trader Joe." To pay for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary trip, he stripped the insulation from copper wire and sold the copper for $3000. He loved a challenge and usually came out the winner. He loved the yearly camping trips, starting out at 3:00 in the morning. He didn't often miss a sunrise or sunset.

He was a man who was unashamed to show emotion when he spoke in church or in a discussion. In recent days, he was very expressive of his love for his family, children, and grandchildren. They treasure those memories. He was successful in his walk with the Lord, recently testifying that his way was open between him and God. He was truly a friend to man.

Missing him are his wife, Wendi, Glenn, CA; Darren and Alyssa Rothgery and four girls, Whitney, Kynzie, Zoey, and Kayla, Homeworth, Ohio; Twila Rothgery, Fountain Run, KY; Garrett and Brandee Rothgery and two girls, Lulu and Alexia, Chico, CA; and Erica and Michael Bodeker, Fountain Run, KY. He leaves his siblings, Susan Latta, Roanok, VA; twin, Linda Rothgery, Hartley, TX; Cheryl Dye, Waldron, AR; Laura Belcher,  Waldron, AR; Dianne Woolf, Chico, CA; father-in-law, Jerry and Elaine Giesbrecht, Glenn, CA; sister-in-law, Sheila and Richard Loewen, Willows, CA; brothers-in-law, Keith and Janese Giesbrecht, Hazelton, ID, and Scott and Marj Giesbrecht, Glenn, CA.  He also loved and was loved by a lot of nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Those who have gone before include his parents, David and Dolores Rothgery; his brother, John Rothgery; and mother-in-law, Carolyn Rae Hansen Giesbrecht; and brother-in-law, Ron Belcher.