Richard H. Roehl

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Richard H. Roehl, age 96, of Foreston Monday, November 23, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Louis Catholic Church in Foreston with Father James Remmerswaal, OSC, officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, November 22, 2015 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca and 1 hour prior at the church on Monday. Military rites will be provided by the Hansen-Hayes American Legion Post #178 and the Siemers-Hakes VFW Post #10794. Interment will take place in the Saint Louis Cemetery. Richard Henry Roehl was born August 19, 1919 in Wayzata, Minnesota to Henry and Hildegarde (Reiser) Roehl. His family had a farm near Hamel. When he was eight years old, the family moved to Benton County near the town of Foreston where they farmed. He attended McKinley School in Granite Ledge Township through eighth grade. At the age of 22, he joined the Army prior to WWII and was in the 215th Coast Artillery Antiaircraft. After training, he was stationed in Kodiak Island, Alaska. The unit later merged into the 1st Infantry Division where he fought in Germany in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart. At the end of the war, he received an honorable discharge. He married Catherine Brunn May 25, 1948. They owned a farm in Granite Ledge Township where they dairy farmed until 1988. They had six children. He was a member of Saint Louis Catholic Church in Foreston. He was on the Oak Park Creamery Board, a member of the legion, and sold Funks seed corn. His hobbies were gardening, fishing, deer hunting, reading, and playing cribbage. He spent his last years at the VA Medical Center in Saint Cloud. Richard passed away Thursday, November 19, 2015 at the VA Medical Center in Saint Cloud. He is survived by his children, Sharon (Neil) Henry of Sauk Rapids, Marie (John) Wirth of Sauk Rapids, Susan (Mark) Orvik of New Prague, Timothy of Foreston, Carol (Jim) Johnson of Sauk Rapids; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brothers, William of Milaca, Francis “Jiggs” of Milaca, Henry, Jr. of Milaca, sister, Mary Nikolas of Oak Park; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Hildegarde; his wife, Catherine; his son, Thomas; brothers, George and Raymond; sisters, Mildred Dumonceaux and Irene Smelter, and great-grandson, Joshua Roehl. A special thank-you to the staff at the VA Medical Center in Saint Cloud for the loving care given to Richard.