Barney Rolsma

Obituary Barney Rolsma Barney Rolsma passed away peacefully and joined his parents in heaven on October 27, 2008. He was born August 12, 1924 in Patterson, NJ to Garry Rolsma and Hattie (Krotje) Rolsma, the first of six children. He grew up in Richmond Hill, NY and graduated from Richmond Hill High School. Barney proudly served his country as a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army in the European Theater in World War II. At the conclusion of the War, Barney attended Clarkson College in Potsdam, NY, married the love of his life, June Esther Smith on November 24, 1948 in Potsdam NY, graduated from Clarkson in 1950 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and later earned a M.S. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. Barney had a 35 year career as a mechanical engineer with General Electric in New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts until his retirement in 1986. In addition to numerous other projects, he worked on Gemini and Apollo space programs. In 1990 Barney and June retired to Florida and in 2005 they returned to Tacoma to be close to family and resided at the Weatherly Inn where June still lives. An avid outdoorsman, photography enthusiast, and traveler Barney was dedicated to his family. He is survived by June Rolsma, his loving wife of 59 years, 11 months. His children; Greg Rolsma of University Place, WA, his wife Sonja and their children Michelle and Garrett; Mark Rolsma of Salem, CT, his wife Valerie and their children Stephanie and Andrew. Siblings Elizabeth Burgess of North Babylon, NY, Bernard Rolsma of Topsfield, MA, Walter Rolsma of Sun City, CA, Anne Louise Rolsma of Phoenix, AZ, and Arthur Rolsma of Aliquippa, PA.