John Charles Rollman, passed away peacefully on Easter morning, April 20th, 2025, after a prolonged illness. He was born on September 12, 1944, to Paul and Ann Rollman in Butte, Montana.

John attended local grade schools before graduating from Butte High School in 1963, where he excelled in football. Following high school, he attended Barber College and went on to serve in the Naval Reserve in Sacramento, CA, where he was honorably discharged. John worked as a barber with his dad at The Family Barber Shop on Harrison Ave. It was just the beginning of his lifelong passion for helping others.

While working as a barber, John attended Montana State University and later transferred to Eastern Montana College, where he continued playing football.  In his spare time, he gave haircuts to his dorm mates for beer money. In 1969, John earned his BS in Secondary Education and a master's degree in Special Education in 1971. He met Charlene Keenan while attending college. They married in 1973 and eventually divorced but reconnected later in life and remained close friends until his death.

John's professional career was dedicated to education. In 1971 he worked at Eastern Montana College as the EMC Coordinator of Events for one year, before beginning his long career with the Billings School District. He taught at Garfield Elementary School and later Billings Senior High School, where he became the Special Education Work Study Teacher. In this role, John taught many students essential work skills, particularly at local McDonald's restaurants, helping them transition into the workforce after graduation. John was deeply involved with Montana Special Olympics, where he served as the Montana Director in 1975. That year, he helped bring Eunice Kennedy, one of the founders of the Special Olympics, to Montana as the keynote speaker to open the state games. After retiring from teaching in 1984, John remained an advocate for people with disabilities and cherished the relationships he built with his students.

John entered the restaurant business with his close friend Noel Meisner 1984, He owned and operated Fuddruckers in Billings and partnered in others across the state. John continued his passion for the disabled and employed many at his restaurant.

In 2004, John retired and returned to his hometown Butte, in 2019 for good. He enjoyed training his black lab Bodie and riding his horse Bucky with his grandnieces.  He was an avid hunter, John spent countless hours enjoying the Montana outdoors, taking rides and visiting local business in town.

In his final years, John bravely battled dementia with his family at his side, yet he never lost his sense of humor, compassion, or deep love for life. Though his body remained strong, his mind gradually slipped away. Still, his spirit shined brightly until the very end.

Preceded in death by his parents Paul & Ann Rollman, sisters Maridoe (Tommy) Davies, Paulette Rollman, brother-in-law Lee Conroy and aunt & uncle Pauline and George Winninghoff.

Surviving Relatives: sister Cathy Conroy (WA), nieces Mary Ann Hackman, Joann (Gary) Bracco, Diann (Andrew) Brinig, the Perry's and Conroy's (WA), the Pacini's (NV), the Lawrence's (NV & TX), the Bessert's (ID), cousins Rosie (Ron) Olson, Phil Winninghoff, grandnieces Amber (Kurt) Kuchtyn, Miranda (Nate) Bolstad, Hannah (John) Evans, Leighann Bracco, Dawnann (Marcus) Davis.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the team at The Springs of Butte and Honeybee Hospice for their outstanding care and support during John's final days. We will be forever grateful.

Funeral Services will be celebrated on August 08, 2025 at 1:00 PM in the Duggan Dolan Mortuary Chapel.  Military Honors and the Rite of Committal will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Special Olympics, Shriner's Hospitals, or Our Lady of the Rockies.

John's legacy will live on through the many lives he touched throughout his life. May he rest in peace.