Edward Anthony Rolwes

Rolwes, Edward A. fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church Friday., Oct. 23, 2026. Loving husband of the late Blanche G. (nee Foeller) for 70 yrs. He now joins her in rest. Dear father and father in-law of Larry (Karen) Rolwes, Jean (Frank) O'Brien, Philip (Marjorie) Rolwes, Mary Ellen (Kevin) Downing, Shirley (Michael) Houser, James (Laura) Rolwes, Judy (Jim) Russo Quirin, Edward (Sandra) Rolwes, Thomas Rolwes, John (Karmen) Rolwes, Christopher (Evelyn) Rolwes, Angela (Robert) Bell, Gregory (Mary Beth) Rolwes, Therese (Jeff) Boedeker and Matthew (Angela) Rolwes. Dear brother of the late Henry (late Jeanne) Rolwes, the late Richard (late Patricia) Rolwes, Clarence (late Patricia) Rolwes, the late Louis (Frances) Rolwes, the late Emily (late Carl) Kersting and the late Irene (late Lester) Eisenbath. Dear grandfather of 114 and great-grandfather of 215, and great-great grandfather of 10. Our dear brother, brother in-law, uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend.

Edward Rolwes (Ed) was born on July 2, 1929 to William Henry Rolwes and Gertrude Margaret Perrin.

Ed married the love of his life Blanche Gertrude Foeller on September 30, 1950, and moved into a home he built for her. Every day of their marriage, they made certain to pray a daily rosary.

Ed and Blanche’s family grew quickly. Ed said that with each child he wondered how God would provide. Ed attended a White House retreat that changed his life. He went from worrying how to make his next dollar to focusing on how he could serve God. In his trust, God continued to provide the means for him to support his growing family and his mission to serve the Church. Ed’s successful business of Rolwes Co. shaped the lives of so many families and neighborhoods across the greater St Louis region.

Ed began a daily holy hour, inspired by Bl. Fulton Sheen at the 41st Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia. He resolved to wake every morning to have one hour with Jesus before the 6am mass at St. Ferdinand parish. Ed and Blanche started the first parish-based perpetual adoration chapel in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which continues to be a home for Christ at St. Ferdinand parish in Florissant. Ed also began a mission to share the Sacred Heart of Jesus in homes throughout St. Louis, leading family enthronements to the Sacred Heart, and founding the St. Louis chapter of Men of the Sacred Hearts.

Ed and Blanche shared their faith not only with their family and parish but far beyond, touching the lives of so many through prayer, financial support, and the example of a life of faith in Christ. He traveled multiple times per year to areas of Honduras to bring medical supplies and aid. Ed became a part of Regnum Christi and built Gateway Academy to educate Catholic children in grades K-12. 

Blanche’s death in 2021 left an absence that even their extraordinary family could not fill. He missed his “Blanchita” dearly for the remainder of his days. Their reunion is sure to be sweet.

Services: Funeral Mass at the Shrine of St. Joseph, 1220 N. Eleventh St., St. Louis, Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Florissant. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shrine of St. Joseph. Visitation at the FAMILY CENTER at the SCHRADER Funeral Home, 14960 Manchester Rd., Ballwin, Tuesday, October 27, 2026 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.