Jeannine C. Rokich

Jeannine C. Rokich, 89, died on Sunday, August 26, 2018.  A loving mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and our fierce adoring champion, Jeannine passed away peacefully at her son David's home in Marina, California.  

She is survived by three children, John R (Paula) Rokich (UT), Diane Rokich (UT), and David Rokich (John Maynard) (CA), granddaughter Stephanie Rokich (Steven Timothy) (UT), two sisters Betty Middlemiss (CA) and Marlene Keller (NV).  She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband John A. Rokich, and her brother Thomas W. Crow.

Jeannine was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 29, 1929 to Rodger W. and Gladys V. Smith Crow.  Although her grade-school education was interrupted by an accident that fractured her spine and kept her in a full body cast for an entire school year, Jeannine returned to complete her education, graduated from South High School, and then attended the University of Utah for three years.  She was a proud member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.  

During her time at the University, Jeannine was introduced to a classmate, John A. Rokich.   John was immediately love-struck with Jeannine and told his mother that he had just met the girl he was going to marry.  They had dated for several years when John was accepted to law school.  John was delighted and proud when his proposal to Jeannine was a success, in part due to his persuasive “argument” that the only way they would see each other whilst they both worked and he attended law school, was for her to marry him. On October 11, 1950, they wed and began their life-long love affair and friendship, until John's death in 2006.  They lived the majority of their fifty+ years of marriage in Magna Utah, and the last few were spent in Carmel, California.

Jeannine cared passionately for her family and her community.  After John began practicing law, Jeannine joined his firm (of one) as his legal secretary and assistant.  She lovingly and patiently served as the “straight woman” to John's numerous jokes and there was never a family gathering in which we didn't see and delight in Jeannine's perfect “eye roll” and her well-timed “disapproving” laugh at his routine ribbing.  She joined John in his many interests and hobbies, particularly with the Tennessee Walking Horses that he trained and exhibited.  Jeannine loved and rode her horse, Lady.   Jeannine generously donated her time, wisdom, and excellent experience to local and greater community organizations.  She served in several Magna City groups, and was a member of The Mosquito Abatement Commission, the Utah Transit Authority Board, the Salt Lake County Planning Commission, and the League of Women Voters.  Jeannine loved and actively kept in touch with her extended family, which includes grateful nieces, nephews, and in-laws.  She was a wonderful mother and mentor who taught us, mainly by example, the importance and warmth of living an honorable life and supporting each other.

Jeannine was a talented artist.  Her landscapes, in oil and in watercolor, adorn the walls of several fortunate friends and family members.  She was a voracious reader (a book and later, her Kindle beside her at all times) and she happily engaged in long discussions about each book just finished.  She simply loved her life, the people and nature within it, and beauty from that love flowed.

A celebration of Jeannine's life will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2018, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, UT. Guests are encouraged to use the complimentary valet parking on the north side of the building. Online condolences may be offered and a video tribute video may be viewed at www.starksfuneral.com. 

Those who so desire, may make a memorial donation to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA., 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 (http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/support-us/ways-to-give/options). 

The family wishes to thank the staff and excellent team members of the Hospice of the Central Coast and John Maynard for the endless patience and wonderful care that they extended to Jeannine and to our family. 

“Don't cry because it's over.  Smile because it happened.”  Dr. Seuss.