Henry Rosbottom 97, redeemed from his body to the presence of Jesus on January 16, 2022.
Harry was born on September 23, 1924 in Hindley, Wigan, Lancaster, England. In his generation he is survived by his sister Edna Bibby of St. Annes on Sea, England and his sister-in-law Jeanne Roby of Leigh, England. He is preceded in death by his brother Edward Roby, two young siblings, John, just 2 weeks of age and Irene just 13 months of age, and brother-in-law Edwin Bibby. In the next generation he is survived by his stepsons; Tim Gabler (Karen), Dan Gabler (Rachel), and Steve Gabler (Lorene) who were just 7, 5, and 2 years old when their dad Milton Gabler died of rheumatic heart disease. Having left his country of origin to join Wycliffe Bible Translators which was based in the United States, and on his way to fulfill his mission, he met Grace Gabler, the mother of the three little boys. He married Grace and they had two daughters whom he is survived by; Marilyn Tallarita (Pete) and Nancy Anderson (Mike). He is also survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In a long life there is so much to tell. He began writing an autobiography which ended about halfway through. He got as far as the part where he finished his mission in Bolivia, South America, which was to translate the New Testament into the Guarani language. Before that he detailed his life in England growing up with his family, his excellent grades in school, studies in electrical engineering, and work with radar research during the war. He was in the British Army in Hamberg, Germany after the war with the Royal Medical Corps. Then he started preparing for missionary work; Missionary School of Medicine and All Nations Bible College. After Bolivia, we fill in the rest; director of Bethesda Mission in Minneapolis, Minnesota and then finance director with Grace Mission in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When he retired his son Tim built him a house in Ashland, Wisconsin where he lived with our mom Grace. After our mom died, he lived 15 years with many adventures along the way; trips to his children’s houses, friends in Florida, South Africa, Chili, Uruguay, Costa Rica, a bike race in Cape Town, South Africa when he was 86 years old! He was quick to point out that he wasn’t the oldest one there.
So, with gratitude in our hearts for a long life well lived, with a few bumps along the bumpy road, we remember a dad whose main purpose in this life was to prepare for the next, everlasting life. His biggest joy in all of his life was to tell others about the One he loved the best, his Lord Jesus Christ.
