Joseph E. Rood

Joseph E. Rood, Jr., 66, (the “Voice of Thunder”) passed away at Deaconess Gateway Hospital on Friday, February 16, 2007. Joe was born to Joseph E. Rood, Sr., and Adeline (Brammeier) Rood on June 14, 1940, (Flag Day, and proud of it!) in Ohio. Joe was a gourmet chef and loved to hunt, fish, and spend time with his family at their home in “Pelzer Wildwoods” near Boonville, IN. Joe graduated from Wyoming High School in Wyoming, OH, in 1958 and attended the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He retired from Deaconess Hospital in 2005 having achieved a career in emergency medical management and quality assurance that spanned four decades. Since retirement, Joe had continued to consult in the areas of emergency preparedness and crisis management. He possessed thorough knowledge and experience in team leadership, emergency management, disaster preparedness and crisis communications. In 1970, Joe was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) instructor by the Wisconsin Department of Health and as an EMT-Paramedic by the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He was the founder of the Wisconsin EMT Association and served as the editor of the Wisconsin EMT Association Journal from 1971 to 1975. Also, in the early 70’s, Joe served as the training officer for the Medical College of Wisconsin EMT-Paramedic Program. In 1975, he moved from Wisconsin to College Park, MD, to become the senior instructor and coordinator of EMT training for the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Joe joined the staff of Deaconess Hospital as the emergency medical services coordinator in 1977 and served in that capacity for ten years. He was directly involved in the organization of an emergency medical services network for a broad area of southwest Indiana and from 1979 to 1987 was a primary emergency medical technician and paramedic instructor trainer for the Indiana EMS Commission. During that time period, Joe also served on the Indiana EMT Test Construction Commission and as an Indiana EMS Commission ambulance competition judge. Joe shared his emergency management expertise willingly with numerous organizations in the Tri State. From 1982 until 1987, he was a member of the Indiana Heart Association’s affiliate faculty and served as a certified instructor for both basic cardiac life support and advanced cardiac life support training. In 1987, he was appointed to the board of directors for Evansville Freedom Festival and served as its president from 1993 to 1995, and again in 2001. Joe was the “Voice of Thunder,” broadcasting details of the highly competitive hydroplane races from the riverfront for each of the races until 1993. Recently, Joe expressed his excitement and was looking forward to being involved once again with Thunder’s leadership team. During his 28-year career at Deaconess Hospital, Joe held a primary role on the hospital’s emergency management team and served as the external liaison for emergency communications. He was a clinical quality improvement analyst and a member of the faculty of the hospital’s continuous quality improvement program. Joe also served in the US Navy as a surgical technician at Great Lakes Naval Hospital from 1960-1964. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Ashley M. Merrick. Joe is survived by his wife Gayle B. Rood of Boonville; son, Matthew J. Rood and his wife, Clare, of Cedar Rapids, IA; daughters, Cathy M. Merrick of Evansville, and Julie L. Rager of Bradenton, FL; grandchildren, Kayte and Emily Wigginton of Evansville and Kendyl and Casey Rager of Bradenton, FL; brother, Richard Rood of Brazil, South America; mother and father-in-law, Millie and Harold Boyette of Orange Park, FL; an aunt, Jeanne Wipperman; and cousins, Jerre and Tom Wipperman, all of St. Louis, MO. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 2 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a Closing Service at 6:30 p.m., Monday, February 19, at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 West Franklin Street, Evansville. The Reverend Joe Foster will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Joe to the Pet Adoption Center located on Vann Avenue in Newburgh or the Twin Bridges Waterfowl USA c/o Jason Grier 2201 Covert Ave. Evansville, IN 47714.

Joseph E. Rood

June 14, 1940 - February 16, 2007