Carol A. Rohr (73) of Effingham

Carol Rohr, 73, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at home with her family.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2022 at Johnson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Fourth Street, Effingham, IL 62401. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery in Effingham.

Memorials may be made in loving memory of Carol to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Effingham. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.

Carol was born on July 10, 1949, in Effingham, IL, the daughter of Joseph and Cecelia (Mihlbachler) Buening. She married Thomas P. Rohr of Newton, IL, on November 28, 1970, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham.

After graduating Effingham High School in 1967, she spent most of her professional life at First National Bank, now Fifth Third Bank, where she earned numerous accolades and awards. As a woman, she broke barriers in the workplace and in 1985, was named the first female president of the Effingham Chamber of Commerce. Also, in 1985, she was named the Business and Professional Woman of the Year by the Effingham Junior Woman’s Club. After 52 dedicated years, she finally retired in 2019!

Outside of the bank, Carol could be found walking countless miles around town, golfing at Effingham Country Club or in Arizona, and traveling to visit her children and grandchildren. Among other hobbies, Carol loved reading, cooking, shopping, and hanging out with her girlfriends watching American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.

It must be mentioned that in 2015, Carol made a hole-in-one at the Cardinal Golf Club during a Catholic Charities event. She loved competition and games. Crosswords, Mahjong, Pinochle, Bridge, and Bunko were all favorites of hers when off the links. To relax, Carol crocheted, watched HGTV, and solved every Lifetime mystery movie long before the credits rolled.

Volunteering and giving back to the community she loved so much was very important to her. Carol volunteered innumerable hours counting money for the church and was a founding board member of the Kings Trust. She could also be found at St. Anthony Hospital Chapel on Saturdays for Perpetual Adoration. Once retired, Carol devoted her time as a CASA Advocate helping children and families.

Carol is survived by her husband, Thomas Rohr of Effingham; son, Anthony (Margarita) Rohr of Merrick, NY; daughters, Emily (Jeff) Swanson of Cary, NC, and Celia (Andrew) Luett of Glenview, IL; grandchildren, Isabela, Max, Nicolas, Cali, Charlie, Jaxton and Drake; sister, Judy (David) Gardewine; and sister-in-law, Ruth Buening.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Kenny Buening, James “Jim” Buening and Rita Tucker.

Carol was an amazing person who cared deeply for her family, friends, and neighbors. She was always there to help, not out of obligation, but because she truly cared. A few characteristics of Carol were her big smile, smart wit, energetic spirit, kind heart, helpful hand, and a contagious laugh – what a reward when you received one of her big belly laughs!

While tears are shed and hearts are broken, Carol’s bright light continues to illuminate our lives.