Known to everyone as Jackie, Rosanne Jacquelyn Kohlhepp, 88, formerly of DuBois, died Feb. 21, 2014 in State College, where she was a resident of The Village at Penn State.
Jackie Callahan was born on Dec. 29, 1925 in Daytona Beach, Fla. to Hugh Paul and Jean Marie (Hayes) Callahan. Raised in DuBois, , she graduated from the DuBois High School in 1943.
She then attended Penn State DuBois Undergraduate Center (DUC) until it was closed in 1944. She transferred to Marjorie Webster Junior College in Washington, D.C. and graduated in 1945.
On Feb. 9, 1946, she married Douglas B. Kohlhepp, who preceded her in death in 1999.
She was active in the community as a Den Mother in Cub Scouts, an officer in the Parent-Teacher Association and an annual volunteer in the DuBois United Way campaigns.
As the mother of three sons, she attended hundreds of sporting events, never missing a game, meet, match or tournament. She was a long-time member of the DuBois Country Club and the St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church. While living in State College, she attended Good Shepherd Catholic Church.
She lived life with enthusiasm and intensity as golfer, skier, bridge player and world traveler. Also living in Johnstown, New Castle and Brookville, she had a wide circle of friends. An accomplished cook, she enjoyed organizing family gatherings, entertaining and hosting dinner parties wherever she lived.
For 30 years, she worked in the family business in DuBois, JA Kohlhepp Sons Inc. with her husband and sons, Ben and Andy. She was a part of the third, fourth and now fifth generation of the family business. Their business activities included the Lumberteria, ready-mixed concrete, Overhead Doors, home building and remodeling and concrete block manufacturing.
Over the years, she actively counseled her sons, as they expanded their True Value Hardware Store, adding Just Ask Rental and Kohlhepp Custom Counter Tops, as well as the opening of a location in State College.
At the age of 62, she and her husband retired and continued their life-long commitment to service to others by joining the Peace Corps in 1987. They spent two-and-a-half years teaching at the Malawi Entrepreneurial Development Institute in Mponela, Malawi. Returning from Africa, they relocated in St. Petersburg, Fla.
After her husband’s death in 1999, she moved to State College, where she was one of the first residents of The Village at Penn State. She enjoyed living at The Village and participated in exercise classes, lectures, bridge clubs and happy hours.
She was the memory-keeper of family stories, events and relationships. She will be missed and held in our hearts with many fond memories.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Cecilia “Cela” Callahan and three brothers, Hugh Paul “Kip” Callahan Jr., Senes Michael “Mike” Callahan and Robert Benjamin “Ben” Callahan.
She is survived by three sons and daughters-in law, Daniel B. and Donna Sell Kohlhepp of Arlington, VA and DuBois, Benjamin R. and Debra Springborn Kohlhepp of DuBois, PA and Andrew J. and Christine Meyer Kohlhepp of Hilton Head, SC.
She is survived by eight grandchildren, Kelly C. Park of West Java, Indonesia, Daniel D. Kohlhepp, Julia A. Gallegos and John A. Kohlhepp, all of DuBois, Lisa R. Kohlhepp of Hilton Head, SC, Katherine “Kaydee” Kohlhepp of Seattle, Wash., Joanne E. Kohlhepp of New York, NY and Kimberly J. Kohlhepp of Arlington, VA.
She is survived by seven great-grandchildren: Caleb, Naomi, Joy and Josiah Park of West Java, Indonesia, Kai Kohlhepp of Hilton Head, SC, and Mateo and Chavez Gallegos of DuBois.
A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at the St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, located at 116 S. State St. in DuBois, with Msgr. Richard Siefer as celebrant.
Memorial donations may be made to the Penn State Doug and Jackie Kohlhepp Endowed Scholarship, in care of Jean Wolf at Penn State DuBois, One College Place, DuBois, PA 15801.
Online condolences may be sent to www.gbfuneralhome.com.
The Goble-Baronick Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
