FORMER CITY COUNCILMAN, WWII VETERAN JAMES ROTHERMEL DIES
A former Brenham City Councilman and World War II veteran has died.
James D. Rothermel, who served for 14 years on the city council and eight years as mayor pro tem, died Thursday, at the age of 99.
Rothermel grew up in Burton and graduated from Brenham High School in 1938. In World War II, he served in the South Pacific with the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Construction Battalion 14, until being discharged in 1945. He would go on to attend Blinn College and Southwest Texas State Teachers College, where he would earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Rothermel served as a teacher in the Brenham school district, a principal at Schulenburg High School and Ganado, and as chairman of the business administration department at San Jacinto College.
He was a major part of the organization of the Brenham Optimist Club, as well as the building of Veterans Memorial Plaza at Fireman’s Park.
Funeral arrangements have been scheduled for Wednesday, August 1st, at 10 a.m., at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brenham. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Services are in the care of Memorial Oaks Chapel.