Daniel Paul Rothhaar

Daniel Paul Rothhaar, 71, of Burlington, Ky, died peacefully at his home on March 13th, 2026, surrounded by his family. Dan was greatly admired for his love for Jesus, incredible work ethic, and passion for missions work. He loved his creator, his family, his friends, and enjoyed his hobbies of cars and aviation.

Dan was born in Willard, Ohio on December 21, 1954 to Kevin and Zelma Rothhaar. He grew up on several farms in the Bucyrus, Ohio area with his three brothers. He attended school in Ohio and Nebraska and had fond memories and often told stories of friends, dorm life, cars, and living with his beloved grandparents. At the age of 12, Dan said yes to Jesus and received him as his Savior. Each year on that day he would proudly announce it as his spiritual birthday. 

He began attending Grace College of the Bible in 1973 where he studied music and missions. It was that fall that he met Rosie, his wife of 47 years, on a blind date. For his junior year internship he joined Wycliffe Jungle Aviation and Relay Service (JAARS) doing aircraft maintenance in North Carolina and Bolivia. This was the first trip that sparked a life long passion for serving his Lord in short term missions. That summer his Uncle Virg taught him to fly.

After graduation, Dan and Rosie married on September 30, 1978. That same year, Dan began his 28 years with Delta Airlines. Their first home was in Schaumburg, IL where he was stationed at O’Hare. In 1980, he transferred to CVG and they started looking for a farm, as Dan and Rosie were both farm kids from childhood. The day they looked at the farm they’ve loved, worked, and lived on for 40+ years was the day they found out they were expecting their first child. A demonstration of God’s extravagant love! It was here that Dan built his first house. The Lord blessed them with three children: Paul, Brian, and Sarah. Dan provided well for his family by running a business building single family homes, managing the family farm, and working at Delta Airlines. 

Dan served faithfully in his local church, first at Hebron Baptist and later at Calvary Baptist Church. He joyfully followed God’s call by serving as a deacon, in music ministry, and leading short term missions trips all over the world including North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. He organized work teams to build, expand, and refurbish churches and other Christian organizations with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, Scioto Hills Camp, Potter’s Ranch, Fairhaven Rescue Mission, and Kentucky Mountain Mission. He provided relief aid, performed aircraft maintenance, and led teams that built runways, hangars, and other facilities across the globe with Samaritan’s Purse, ABWE,  Word of Life, and Wycliffe JAARS.

Later in life, Dan continued pursuing his passion of aviation. He built home kit airplanes, flew aerial surveys, and trained other pilots as a certified flight instructor. He loved to share this passion by taking family and friends for flights in his airplanes and attending air shows.

Dan is survived by his loving wife Rosie and their three children; Paul (Kaeli) Rothhaar, Brian (Lisa) Rothhaar, and Sarah (Daniel) Burkhard; and seven grandchildren (Eli, Roehn, Kiera, Ava, Eloise, Henry, and Edith). He is also survived by his father, Kevin Rothhaar; brothers, Alan (Jean Ann) Rothhaar, Jim (Deb) Rothhaar, and David (Suzanne) Rothhaar and their families; as well as one brother in law Elwin (Caryn) Harder, and a sister in law Sharon Harder. Dan was preceded in death by his mother, Zelma Rothhaar, his sister in law, Myrtle Loy Busenitz, and his brother in law, Eugene Busenitz.

Visitation will be held Thursday March 19, 2026 from 10am to 12pm with funeral services to follow at Calvary Baptist Church 3711 Tibbatts St, Covington KY 41015. A private burial will follow. Memorial contributions can be made to Samaritan’s Purse P.O. Box 3000 Boone NC, 28607. Online condolences can be made at www.linnemannfuneralhomes.com

Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.