Jeffry William Rexhausen

Jeffry William Rexhausen, 68, passed away January 11 after two stem cell transplants, battling CMML in a fierce battle for two years.  He gave that fight everything he had, just like he lived each day up until the last few weeks in Hospice care.  Jeff is survived by the love of his life, Theda Terry Tucker Rexhausen from Johnson City, Tennessee, having celebrated 45 years of marriage in December.  Their children:  Son Joshua Matthew (Tiffany Catanzaro) Rexhausen and their children Bridget, Joshua, and Ella; Daughter Joy Elizabeth Rexhausen (Clifford Wayne, Jr.) Walters and their children Trey and Madison, also Wayne’s son Austin and daughter Meghan (Kyle) Harris; Son John Paul (Melinda Carroll) Rexhausen and their daughter Madilyn; and Son Joseph Daniel Terry Rexhausen.  Jeff is also survived by sisters Jan (William) Murin of Racine, WI; Judy (Stephen) Menard of Shawano, WI; and brothers James (Debi) Rexhausen of Racine, WI, and John (Kimberly) Rexhausen of Atlanta, GA.  He was the son of Guenther William (Rex) Rexhausen and Rosemary Catherine Mondloch of Racine, WI.

Jeff was born in Milwaukee, WI and later lived in Racine, WI.  He attended DeSales Preparatory Seminary in Milwaukee 1964-1968.  After a year of college in Racine, Jeff helped to start a Sing Out Racine, of which he was also a singing, dancing member, and he went to Europe in summer of 1970 with “Sing Out 70s.”  After that summer Jeff joined the US Army 1970-1971 and went to study German in Monterey, CA.  He was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and discharged from the Army, with lifelong care from the VA for his condition.  He visited Sing Out Knoxville, met Theda, married in Dec 1973, and attended the University of Tennessee, graduating with a BA in Urban Sciences, College Scholar, Aug 1977 and MS in Planning, Research Award, in 1981.

Jeff and Theda lived in Knoxville 1973-1982 and have been residents of Cincinnati for the last 36 years.

Jeff worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1978-82 as a Research Assistant.  They moved to Cincinnati to join New Jerusalem Community with Father Richard Rohr in Sept 1982.  Jeff worked for Public Demographics, Project Manager & Lead Researcher 1983-1986.  Project Market Data (later, Project Market Decisions) Co-founder, 1986-88.  Northern KY Area Development District, Development Services Division Director 1988-89.  Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Director of Planning and Research 1989-1998.  Project Market Decisions, Research & Development Director 1998-2000.  ServiceTrac, Research & Development Director 2000-2001.  Economics Center (Univ. of Cincinnati), Assoc. Director of Research/Senior Research Associate, 2001-2017.

Jeff Rexhausen was Senior Research Associate at the Economics Center, which is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati.  Jeff was widely regarded as a leading expert on the subject of affordability and financial capability.  He researched and produced financial analyses to assist public agencies and environmental groups in assessing economic feasibility and affordability issues.  Jeff was a regular presenter at various national and state water conferences.   Jeff also lead research projects on a range of other applied economic issues.  He specialized in producing financial analyses and crafting innovative methodologies to assist clients in assessing development feasibility and the economic and fiscal impacts of projects and organizations.

In his professional life, Jeff directed his intellect and passion in cutting edge research on affordability issues surrounding our country’s public water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure. He excelled at recognizing each community’s unique economic circumstances and worked tirelessly at the local, state and federal levels to advocate for solutions that are both affordable and cost effective. His contributions on affordability studies, green infrastructure, and integrated planning for public water, sewer, and stormwater utilities were invaluable.  He helped communities nationwide to advance the state-of-the-art of delivering community benefits in conjunction with public infrastructure projects while keeping essential public utility services affordable.  Jeff cast an indelible mark on public utilities nationwide and his legacy of effectively assessing community affordability will protect and serve public utility ratepayers for generations to come.  

Lumen Gentium Award, Conference for Pastoral Planning & Council Development, 2008.  (Given in recognition of distinguished pastoral leadership in the utilization of planning and broad consultation processes, influencing a significant number of people, structures and programs and showing initiative and creativity while raising awareness of the principles of the document, Lumen Gentium.)  Jeff was a member of this organization for years, was on various committees, and he presented papers and research for them, often co-authoring work with others on specific projects.  He also was a member of the Religious Research Association (RRA) for many years, presenting papers and attending conferences with many dear friends.

Jeff loved doing all sorts of research every day, especially pastoral and economic.  He retired from the Economics Center at the end of 2017 after his first stem cell transplant in Oct 2017.  His second stem cell transplant was this past summer in June/July.  He loved doing almost anything (other than video games) with grandchildren – reading, going for walks, playing board games and cards, teaching them and inspiring them to learn about so many things.  He especially thrived on church ministry and liturgy planning.  Jeff loved reading every day of his life, and sometimes watching our collection of classic musicals and classic movies, singing Disney songs with his granddaughters, and playing ball with grandkids. He loved growing tomatoes and raspberries, and he loved snow!  This was a man who loved life, who loved to travel, who made it to Europe three times (once with Theda), and who was studying German once more in order to take another few trips to Germany with Theda, but leukemia got in his way.

There is a great, gaping hole in our hearts and in our lives, felt by hundreds of dear family and friends who all agree that Jeff had to leave us way too soon!  He had so much left to do, but his accomplishments are great.  The love he shared freely everyday lives on in family and friends.   We think that Jeff would ask you to live each day with kindness, civility, passion and purpose, and to be God’s love for each person you meet in a day.

There will be a funeral mass for Jeff on Feb 02, 2019 at St Bernard Catholic Church, 745 Derby Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45232 at 1:00 PM.   Reception to follow in St Bernard City Hall Bldg, 120 Washington Ave, St Bernard OH 45217 until 8 PM.  The wearing of Hawaiian shirts is strongly encouraged for anyone who wants to honor Jeff’s Hawaiian shirt Friday legacy.  He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt many days during transplants and every day he was in Hospice.  The family suggests donations can be made to our little church, St Bernard Catholic Church, 740 Circle Ave, Cincinnati OH 45232 or to The Leukemia Lymphoma Society. 

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Walker Funeral Home, 2625 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati (45206)  is serving the  Rexhausen family.  Please call (513) 251-6200 or visit www.WalkerFuneralHome.com for additional information.

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