MWR Family helps veteran overcome daughter’s suicide | Article

WIESBADEN, Germany – Joel “Dusty” Rhodes can’t say enough about the Rheinblick Golf Course and MWR.

“I really love this job,” said Rhodes, the Rheinblick’s assistant superintendent. “I’m going to keep doing this as long as they will have me.

“I like still being a part of helping Soldiers. … I like that MWR has a strong presence here,” said the 20-year U.S. Army veteran who served with the 440th Signal Battalion in Darmstadt and Iraq before retiring from the Army and joining Wiesbaden MWR in 2005.

“It’s a good crew – a good place to work,” said Rhodes, describing the Rheinblick as a unique course in Germany. “It’s a challenging course for the beginner to the advanced player. It’s not a ‘hit it and forget it’ course.”

“I’m the environmental guru here,” said Rhodes, describing the various codes that the Rheinblick must meet. “We need to meet the highest standards – whether it’s EU or U.S.” That includes maintaining four active bee hives and eight different wildflower areas at the Rheinblick.

Besides the various tournaments, Friday night scrambles and other events, Rhodes also praised the culinary offerings, courtesy of Cem Klein’s Restaurant and Bistro, also known as the Rheinblick Restaurant.

“We have a great restaurant and great views,” said Rhodes. “The restaurant is top notch – from fine dining to getting a burger to go. We’re the best-kept secret in Wiesbaden.”

For the 57-year-old who hails from Conneaut, Ohio, having a strong sense of team was vital to helping him cope with the tragedy of losing his 13-year-old daughter, Ciarra Joi, to suicide in December of 2013.

“It was a pretty rough couple of years,” he said, adding that his wife, who never overcame the untimely loss of their daughter, succumbed to illness in 2016.

Having considered suicide himself following the loss of his daughter and wife, Rhodes said he valued the support of his colleagues and friends – and has made it his mission to provide support and advice wherever he can to help prevent further suicides. “I’m a big mental health advocate. I’ve talked to many different groups – rotary clubs, parent groups, at a garrison-wide suicide prevention stand-down  – sometimes it’s harder than others, but it keeps me going.”

Rhodes also hosts an annual charity softball tournament in his daughter’s name to raise money for U.S. and German suicide prevention (and counseling) programs. “It’s held the last weekend in May with teams from all over Europe. It has grown through word of mouth. We have raffles, auctions and a home-run derby. … In the eight years that we’ve done this, we’ve raised and donated 90,000 Euro. ” (Editor’s note: For more information about the event search for CJR Memorial Softball Tournament on Facebook.)

“He’s one of my main thinkers,” said Rheinblick Golf Course Manager Ed Galvan, “whether it’s operational or regarding environmental and maintenance. My respect for veterans is really high, and he’s one of the ones who puts the exclamation mark on that – taking care of our military and veteran patrons. I think that Dusty’s buy-in to taking care of those guys and gals is key.”

“As my deputy, he’s been fantastic,” said Golf Course Superintendent Gerald Beierschmitt. “He watches my back, and he’s there for me. On a personal level, as well as a business level, he’s been instrumental in helping me.

“We work hard here and we have a mission, but it has to be a group effort,” added Beierschmitt, praising the support of Rhodes and his fellow team members.

Rhodes added that besides his “Rheinblick family,” he is thankful to have found a new family with whom to share his life. “I would like people to know that it does get better (overcoming grief) as I have found love again with a wonderful wife and her daughters who support me. They are one of the reasons I can do what I do and care and live.”