Deacon Ronald E. Rohlman was born in Lansing on Sept. 18, 1936. His commitment to education was inspired at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, where he graduated in 1954. He served for two years in the U.S. Army (1956-57) in the Headquarters Company of the Second Combat Engineers, Second Division. He was stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, after training as a radio operator at Fort Lewis in Washington. With the aid of the GI Bill, he then attended Michigan State University, where he earned a B.A. in history and Latin in 1961 and began his graduate studies in history. He earned an M.A. from the University of Michigan in 1964 and a Ph.D. in educational administration in 1978 with a dissertation on school construction management.

He served in Catholic School systems for 10 years, beginning as a teacher at St. John Vianney High School and moving on to serve as an administrator in Lansing and Genesee County. He also worked as assistant superintendent in Grand Blanc from 1972-77 and as associate superintendent for business affairs at Southfield Public Schools from 1977-96.

Over his career, Ronald managed the construction of many schools, most notably Flint Powers Catholic High School, Grand Blanc High School and the Daniel Hogan Library at Southfield High School. He served on the board of directors of the Michigan School Business Officials Association from 1982 until his retirement and was president for the 1985-86 term.

In 1983, he was ordained a deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit by then-Archbishop Edmund C. Szoka. He served at St. Ives, Our Lady of Refuge, National Shrine of the Little Flower, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, and St. Owen in Oakland County. He also was chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Pontiac.

Together with his wife of 55 years, Rosie, they raised six children and were blessed with 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Deacon Rohlman is survived by his wife of 55 years, Rosie; children Theresa Larsen (Stephen), Rosemarie Smith, Christopher (Nancy), Joseph (Diane), Karen Wampuszyc (Jan), and Elizabeth (Anthony Wimmers); 12 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and three brothers, James (Doreen), John (Melodie) and David Lankton (Bertha). He was pre-deceased by his parents, Frank and Dorothy; stepfather Lyle Lankton; brother Richard Rohlman; and sister Claudine Resta Hanner.

A funeral Mass was May 27 at St. Owen Church, Bloomfield Hills. Memorials to the St. Vincent De Paul Society.