Donald Rosebaugh

Donald Eugene Rosebaugh was born on April 20, 1932 in Topeka, Kansas. He passed away on December 31, 2013 at the age of 81. He leaves behind a brother, Duane Rosebaugh, his ex-wife Carole (Trickle-Rosebaugh) Sjolander, and their four children, Denise (Rosebaugh) Marolf, Steve Rosebaugh, Suzie (Rosebaugh) Vaughan, and Donald Eugene Rosebaugh Jr ("DJ"), eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Margaret Rosebaugh who raised him and his brother on a small farm north of Topeka. Don graduated from Seaman High School in 1950. After graduation, he eloped with Carole Trickle in Arkansas, joined the Army and served in Korea after completing basic training at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

After returning from the war, Don pursued a variety of jobs and businesses, always willing to try something new in search of a good income. At one point, he was a mailman with the US Postal service, but delivered a paper route before work each day, and also a band leader and played bass and vibes on weekends.

In the early 1960's, Don and Carole ran the Dine-O-Mite Cafe on Sixth Street. It was fabulous home cooked breakfast and lunch served at a U-shaped counter with thirteen stools bolted to the linoleum floor. After a couple of years, they realized they weren't going to get rich doing this and sold the business.

Don eventually ended up as the restaurant manager at the Sears cafe at White Lakes Mall. During some routine day, one of his regulars who was a salesman at Sears, said, "Don, you should take off that apron and try sales. You could earn a lot more!" So he did. And he proceeded to break sales records in every department they assigned to him.

He was soon offered a promotion to District Sales Manager at the Sears offices in Kansas City. Only a year later, he was promoted again to National Sales Promotion in Chicago, moving into the Sears Tower when it was completed a year later. He enjoyed a successful career with Sears, and retired in 1987.

During his whole life, Don pursued his three biggest passions - nature, jazz, and food. He had a strong sense of adventure in all parts of his life. He loved to go camping with his family, often going 2 or 3 times a month during the summer. He loved to listen and play jazz, and was an active player his whole life until heart problems ended his career. But mostly, he loved food and cooking. This was perhaps his biggest passion and legacy.

Late in life, he reconnected with a friend from high school who had just lost her husband to cancer. Connie Hutton was a new love for him the last 10 years of his life. He moved to Lodi, California to join her and had about 5 wonderful years together. When she succumbed to cancer about five years ago, he moved back to Topeka to a quiet retirement. He also discovered Christian faith late in life, beginning his exploration of the Bible and it's meaning for his life.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Mount Hope Chapel in Topeka. Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel is assisting the family.