Thomas Hugo Rolens

Thomas H. “Chief” Rolens, 81, of Mascoutah, IL, born Oct. 19, 1933 in St. Louis, MO, passed away Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville, IL.

He was a retired Chief Master Sergeant serving in the U. S. Air Force as an aircraft loadmaster for 30 years and was a Vietnam War veteran.  Tom flew on the C-5, C-124, C-133, C-141, and the C-97 aircraft during his career, serving many missions.  He could load any equipment or cargo and was instrumental in test loading, writing and approving procedures on the C-5 aircraft, which included the first Flight Unit of SPACELAB being delivered from Germany to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Hugo and Lucie V., nee Hampton, Rolens; and two sisters, Sally Plummer-Ashler, and Nancy Elliott.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, nee Grothe, Rolens whom he married in Chillicothe, MO on July 24, 1955; three children, Michael (Elaine) Rolens of Enid, OK, Sheryl (Alfred) Kleiboeker of Breese, IL, and Cynthia (Christopher J.) Bechtoldt of Venedy, IL; six grandchildren, Jonathan (Amanda) Rolens, Melissa (David) Faught, Jessica Rolens, Christopher (Shawnee) Bechtoldt, Jennifer (Trevor) Tull, and Ryan Bechtoldt; six great-grandchildren, Katelynn, Matthew, Elizabeth, Kylar, Aiden, and Collin.

The family thanks the staff at MarKa Nursing Home in Mascoutah for their loving care.

Visitation: There will be no visitation.

Funeral: Private graveside services will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.