Cletus Anthony Roh, age 96, passed peacefully on December 13, with his three daughters by his side. As the esteemed Patriarch of the Roh family, he leaves behind the best kind of legacy – not the legacy that leaves something for people, but leaves something in people. Though his passing leaves a void that can never be filled, we are grateful for the values of faith, family, and a strong work ethic that he has instilled in us.

Clete was born to Albin and Mary Roh on July 8, 1928, in Bruno, Nebraska. His virtues and values were molded in that small town and laid the foundation for a successful and well-lived life. His parents sent him to the big city of Omaha as a teen to attend Creighton Prep for high school, which he often said was the best thing that ever happened to him. He went on to earn his business degree at Creighton University and, before graduating, married the love of his life, Beverly Ann Penke.

Together, life first took them to Colorado Springs. Clete enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and, as a college graduate, was assigned to the group running the IBM accounting machines at Ent AFB. This gave him a great start in the early days of computers, and after his four years of service he was hired by IBM. The company moved them to Dayton, Ohio, and then on to Rockville, MD, where he spent the rest of his career in IBM management.

Family came first for Clete, who was a proud father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He and Bev traveled the US and beyond to be present for many of the milestone events of their 8 grandchildren in places as far-flung as Okinawa and Australia. And in his later years, seeing the faces of his great grandchildren never failed to put a big smile on his face.

He attended his first Nebraska football game with his dad at the age of 8 and credits his father for making him a sports fanatic. He quickly became a devoted Cornhusker fan, and Saturdays in the fall found him wearing his Husker Red and cheering his team on the gridiron. He was even known to send recruiting suggestions to Coach Tom Osborne.

He became a car enthusiast early on, beginning with a job pumping gas in Bruno to working at Sears Automotive in college to the purchase of his first Studebaker. He was known for his sharp recall and mental acuity, which enabled his daughter to write his biography, “The Boy from Bruno”. He was proud of his Czech heritage and always loved a good polka. Finally, no description of Clete would be complete without mentioning Jack Daniels – always present at any celebration.

Clete was a humble man and a true gentleman, rarely having a bad word to say about anyone and a good neighbor to all who knew him. Clete was a man of faith and a valued member of the Shrine of St. Jude Parish in Rockville. He wore many hats there over the years, including chairing the Parish Council, sitting on the board of directors for the Holy Name Society, serving as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, counting the offering, and belonging to the Father Rosensteel Council of the Knights of Columbus, among others.

Clete is survived by his 3 daughters, Regina Schwartz (Ray) of Monroe, CT; Cecelia Windham (Tom) of Conroe, TX; and Serena Treworgy of Rockville, MD, along with his 8 grandchildren: Katherine, Jessica, Danielle, Christopher, Lindsey, Kelley, Tyler and Alicia, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by Beverly, his wife of 68 years, and his sister Carol Lee Dorwart.

Visitation will be at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, MD (Valet Parking) on Thursday, December 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at the Shrine of St. Jude, 12701 Veirs Mill Rd, Rockville, MD, on Friday, December 20 at 12 p.m. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Clete’s memory to Creighton Prep at Give Now - Creighton Prep, or by mail at 7400 Western Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

Please click here to view the family's video of Clete's 96 years