Joseph Rovder

AUSTINTOWN - Funeral services will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 a.m., at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, North Jackson Chapel, for Mr. Joseph P. Rovder, 79, formerly of North Jackson, who died Saturday evening at his residence, surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Rovder was born on March 17, 1936, in North Jackson, son of John J. and Mary (Slivka) Rovder.

He was a member of St. James Catholic Church.

After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Joseph began working for Calvary Cemetery, working on the cemetery grounds for 12 years before retiring in 1988.

The most important thing to Joseph was his family. He loved spending time with them, especially on the farm. He also loved to hunt and fish. Lastly, he was a member of the local National Guard.

Joseph's loving wife, the former Velma Haynes, whom he married on June 13, 1959, died on Feb. 19, 2006.

He will be greatly missed by his daughter, Ruth Rovder of Austintown; two sisters, Mary Semko of Austintown, and Cecelia Badger of Niles; four grandchildren, Joseph, Alicia, Zachary, and Matthew; five great-grandchildren, Breanna, Aiden, Klarissa, Cayden, and Cali; and many great friends.

Besides his parents and wife, Joseph was preceded in death by an infant son, Joseph Rovder Jr.; two sisters, Millie Henning and Sarah Young; and three brothers, Frank, John, and Daniel Rovder.

The family will receive friends today from 3 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home.

Interment will take place at Vaughn Cemetery in Lake Milton, with military honors by the great men of the Ellsworth VFW.

Please visit www.higgins-reardon.com to view this tribute and send condolences.