Joan Butler Rothhammer

Joan Butler Rothhammer, 95, formerly of Georgetown and The Woodlands, Texas, peacefully passed away on Monday, September 23, 2024. Her last months were happily spent at Sagebrook Nursing and Rehabilitation in Cedar Park, Texas, where she was loved and cared for by the most amazing staff and residents.

Joan was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and raised in North Bergen, New Jersey. Joan’s passion for art started at age four, when her uncle gave her an art set. She painted at every opportunity. After graduating from Union Hill High School at the age of 16, she immediately began working in Manhattan, the city she loved. She was an usher at the movie theater and worked in a bank before she started working for Eastern Airlines. When she found out she was too tall to be a stewardess, Joan convinced the airline to hire her as the first female ticket agent. Her job with the airline took her to Phoenix, Arizona, where she met the love of her life, Berry.

Berry and Joan married in 1958 and soon started a family. Upon moving their family to Georgetown, Texas, they opened Rothhammer Art Center, a two-story art gallery complete with classrooms, art store and frame shop. This innovative undertaking brought the art world to Georgetown through shows, and instruction. When Berry passed away unexpectedly in 1978, Joan supported her family through her art.

Joan taught art to many adults and children in Georgetown, Austin and The Woodlands. She was invited to perform demonstrations and teach art workshops across the United States. She was instrumental in starting the Waco Brazos River Art Festival and Waco Art League. She was a master painter and portrait artist. She painted in all mediums, but watercolor and oil were her favorites. One of the things she was most proud of was being recognized for her portrait painting excellence by the acclaimed John Howard Sanden. She was invited to be a Member of Excellence in the inaugural American Portrait Society and also served on the National Advisory Board of The Portrait Club of New York.

Joan was a loving woman with a great faith, strength, and determination. She took everything in stride, maintaining her sweetness and sense of humor. She especially loved God, her country, her family, art and the Jersey Shore. She had a great love for people and she was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Her joyful outlook on life was contagious.

Joan was predeceased by her husband Berry E. Rothhammer, parents John and Nancy (Lohmeyer) Butler, brother Robert J. Butler, sister and brother-in-law Gail and John Bernardine and great nephew Shayne Robert Tetrault. She is survived by her four children; Nancy and Blair Dietrich, Laurie and Mark Lewis, Michael and Debbie Rothhammer, and Patricia and Nathan Douglas; nine grandchildren: Jordan and Nicole Smith, Austin Lewis, Tyler and Cait Lewis, Michaela and Dustin Van Loozen, Noah and Chelsea Douglas, Julie Lewis, Colton Rothhammer, Rebecca Dietrich, and Maddie and Ryan McCollum; eleven great grandchildren Jaydin, Eden, Atlas, Wesson, Lily, William, Layne, Waylon, Crawford, Navy, and Landen; sister in law Janet Butler and beloved nieces and nephews.