John T. Rottenfusser was born on 1 August 1885, in Albany, Albany, New York Colony, British Colonial America as the son of Joseph Rottenfusser and Maria Oswald. He married Elsie Haldeman on 24 January 1904. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 4 daughters. He lived in Ione, Pend Oreille, Washington, United States in 1900. He died on 3 December 1950, in Lacombe, Lacombe County, Alberta, Canada, at the age of 65, and was buried in Alix, Lacombe County, Alberta, Canada.