Cassius Alan RovenstineCassius Alan Rovenstine, age 81, of Atwood, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.
A lifelong resident of the Atwood community, he was born on April 16, 1938, the son of Cassius “Tim” Rovenstine and Grayce Elizabeth Kinzie Rovenstine. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1956, then attended Butler University before returning to Atwood to work at his family’s grocery store. He met his wife, Sandra Sue Witham, when she worked at the restaurant across the street. They were wed on Nov. 29, 1958, and their marriage lasted until Sandra’s death on July 31, 2009.
In addition to his work at the grocery store, Al held positions as a deliveryman for the county line cheese route and as a manager at Creighton Brothers. And in 1969, he took a job as a deputy at the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, beginning a career in law enforcement that would span three decades.
Al entered the world of Republican politics in 1974, running unsuccessfully for the office of Sheriff of Kosciusko County. He tried again in 1978 and was elected by a wide margin, ending two decades of Democratic dominance at the Sheriff’s Department. He won a second term in 1982, and then, in 1987, assumed the role of captain under Sheriff Ron Robinson. He was elected to third and fourth terms as sheriff in 1990 and 1994, becoming the longest serving sheriff in Kosciusko County history. His tenure in office saw the shuttering of the historic county jail and the construction of a larger, more modern facility, as well as the creation of the Kosciusko County work release program. After leaving office, he served as a consultant for the new jail project and worked as an investigator for the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.
His hobbies included fishing at his beloved river cottage along the Tippecanoe, gardening tomatoes, working on the family farm and following high school and Indiana University basketball.
Al was a proud member of the Atwood Lions Club and the Kosciusko County Shrine Club. He served on the original board of directors for the Beaman Home. He was active in Republican politics and served as treasurer of the Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee. He was a volunteer for the Atwood Fire Department and served as its chief from 1964 to 1978. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Sagamore of the Wabash, the Chamber of Commerce Government Excellence Award, the Fireman of the Year Award, and the Kosciusko County Republican Hall of Fame.
Despite his many great achievements, he was a quiet and humble man. More than any of his public accomplishments, he will be remembered for his private acts of generosity and compassion toward those he encountered on life’s journey.
His survivors include his loving companion, Yvonne Sue England; his three children, Cassius Aaron (Robin) Rovenstine, Nanette Michelle (Bill) DeGaetano and Nicole Sue (Rick) Rutherford; and his seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra; and his sister, Diane Baney.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14 in McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. His funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. in the Atwood Community Center, Atwood. Pastor John Lowe will officiate the service with Interment Services in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
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Memorials to The Beaman Home, PO Box 12, Warsaw, IN 46581 or Our Father’s House, 2114 E Winona Ave., Warsaw, IN 46580.
To sign the register book or leave condolences electronically, go to mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.
