Man built homes in 3-county area

10/1/2003

Henry J. Romstadt, 59, a longtime carpenter and home builder known for his attention to detail, died of cancer Monday at his home in Lucas County's Jerusalem Township.

His company, Henry J. Romstadt Construction, founded in 1982, built homes in Lucas, Wood, and Ottawa counties. He did most of the work himself, including drawing the plans, his wife, Marcia, said.

“He enjoyed doing quality work for people,” said his wife, who was office manager. “He took great pride in it, and he was quite a diplomat with the customers. What they wanted is what he built, and there was nothing he couldn't do.”

He was so in demand, “If he couldn't get to jobs right away, [customers] would even put it off to the next winter,” said Harold Mensing, a friend who spent winters in Marathon and whose Lost Peninsula home was built by Mr. Romstadt.

Mr. Romstadt grew up in Jerusalem Township and was a graduate of Clay High School. His duty during Army service in Korea was turret artillery repair.

He had an apprenticeship in carpentry after his return.

“He was very creative and talented, especially with mathematics,” his wife said.

For about a decade, he and friend Glen Tank operated R&T Construction.

Surviving are his wife, Marcia, whom he married Aug. 1, 1969; mother, Dorothy Romstadt; brother, Marty, and sisters, Ruth Ann Sheehan, Phyllis Bickford, Jeannie Murray, Betty Csehi, and Rita Glesser.

The body will be in the Robinson-Henn-Brossia Mortuary, Genoa, after 5 p.m. tomorrow. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Bono, of which he was a member.

The family suggests tributes to the church, the Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg Township, or to a charity of the donor's choice.