Clemens Peter Roether was born more than 95 years ago in Bismarck, North Dakota on November 6, 1927 to
Peter and Eva Roether, and he had a sister named Marian. After finishing high school at Saint Mary's, he joined the United States Navy and served honorably in World War ll. As a graduate of Northwestern University, Clem earned a job with the Armstrong Cork Company and moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he met the love of his life, Jane Louise Evans. The couple married and later moved to central Florida where they raised their five sons: Peter, Mark, James, John and Andrew. They have five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Success as a writer and photojournalist led Clem to establishing his own advertising and communications agency where he worked with major organizations such as the Coca-Cola Corporation, the Martin Company and the Smithsonian Institution. He collaborated with important contributors to society including Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell and astronauts from the Apollo missions. After retirement, Clem enjoyed life with Jane and his family while living in California and Arizona before returning to Florida.
Clem had a passion for photography both professionally and artistically, and he used it to create framed prints, greeting cards, photo books and a collection of slides that are a family treasure. His unique images are works of art and a lasting form of self-expression that he described as "celebrating what is right with the world by searching everywhere for beautiful images, then capturing them in one second and enjoying them for years." He explained that, "In photography, it is not what you look at, but what you see. We see not only with our eyes, but also with our hearts and minds."
Clemens Roether moved to heaven on the morning of April 22, 2023 and will be laid to rest at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. Although his remaining family will miss him deeply, they find comfort in knowing that Clem is with our Lord Jesus Christ and that his spirit lives on in their hearts. Clem left us with this message:
When you go to sacred places
Be still
And listen
For the Spirit speaks to us in many ways
And once you have heard Him
He can find you anywhere
In lieu of flowers Donations may be made in his name to:
Navy Seal Foundation.