John Rossitz

Bushnellsville-

John F. Rossitz of Rossitz Road, Bushnellsville died peacefully, Wednesday April 7, 2021 at his family homestead.  He was born April 22, 1929, at the homestead on Rossitz Road, son of the late John and Margareta Kelsch Rossitz. He attended a one room schoolhouse in Shandaken.  John honorably served in the US Army from 1951 to 1953.  For seventeen years, he was an automobile mechanic at John's Sunoco on Rt. 28 in Big Indian.  He had been a union carpenter working on bridge construction around the Hudson river and Ulster county area also using his great talent and skills to construct many homes and cottages throughout the Catskills. John later was employed for 16 years by the NYS DEC at Belleayre Ski Center where his depth of knowledge and experience kept machinery running smoothly on the mountaintop.  John also had been employed for two years with the Town of Shandaken Highway Department.  He enjoyed building different wood craft projects, and landscaping ornamentation for their property.  John had an innate appreciation for nature and the great outdoors.  He and his family experienced scouting, hiking, and camping.  He valued his community and volunteered his time coaching Little League baseball.  He has a legacy of service to the Big Indian - Oliverea Fire Department where he was a Life Member with over 55 years of service and had served as past Assistant Chief of the Department.     

Survived by his wife Jane Bedell Rossitz, two sons: Jeffrey (Melisa) Rossitz of Rochester,NY, Jay (Linda) Rossitz of Summerville,SC, daughter-in-law Dorothy Rossitz, grandchildren: Meghan (Craig) Mullen, Amanda Rossitz (Michael Schneggenburger),Vanessa (Michael) Behnke, Stephanie (Matthew) Enz and Lisa (Robert) Repke. Six great grandchildren: Jacob and Kaden Mullen, Carter and Charlotte Behnke,  Lauren and Robert Repke. 2 nephews: Mark and Craig Bedell.

Predeceased by his son John (Jody) Rossitz

A Service to Celebrate the life of John Will be held on Saturday April 17, 2021 at 10 am at the E. B. Gormley Funeral Home 87 Main St. Phoenicia.  Burial with military honors will be at the family plot in the Shandaken Rural Cemetery.  Friends will be received on Friday April 16th from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the E. B. Gormley Funeral Home.  You may share a special memory or condolence with the family on John's Tribute Wall at gormleyfuneralhome.com

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