Peter Thomas Rolfes

Peter Thomas Rolfes, 74, of Brookhaven, passed away Friday, November 4, 2022 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born March 30, 1948 in Memphis, TN to the late Bernard Alfred Rolfes, Sr. and Peggy Nash Rolfes.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Peggy Biggs Rolfes; two daughters, Sarah Rolfes Cox (Brandon) of Peachtree Corners and Molly Rolfes of Brookhaven; two brothers, Barney Rolfes (Becky) of Memphis, TN and Palmer Rolfes (Gigi) of Macon; twin granddaughters Caroline and Claire Cox; and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Pete attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Memphis. He studied at The University of Tennessee and Memphis State, prior to being drafted into the Marine Corps and performing active duty in Vietnam from 1969-1970. During his time of service, he was awarded the Purple Heart, and was honorably discharged in 1970. He began his career in the restaurant business as a bartender with TGIFriday’s in Memphis, Little Rock, and Atlanta, then moved to restaurant management with Longhorn Steakhouse in Atlanta. His instant likeability and way with people made it an easy transition from the restaurant business to computer sales, the industry in which he worked from the 1990’s through the end of his career.

Pete had a gift for connecting in beautiful, simple ways with everyone he met, and he never missed an opportunity to let those he loved know how he felt about them. He was a loyal, trustworthy, hardworking, and faithful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. While he fulfilled each of these roles to the utmost, the five years he had as a grandfather were truly the highlight of his life. He had a quick wit and a mischievous, one of a kind sense of humor, and he kept everyone around him laughing until the very end.

A public visitation will be held Friday, November 11 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Brookhaven. A private family burial will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis or an organization benefiting veterans, or that you simply help someone in need, as Pete was always willing to do. 

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