Kenneth W. 'Ken' Roehl

Roehl, Kenneth W. "Ken" MADISON-Kenneth W. "Ken" Roehl, age 80, passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Legacy Gardens Assisted Living. He was born on May 21, 1930 in Janesville, the son of Vernor W. H. and Julie Melvina (Paaske) Roehl. Ken was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Ann Smith in 1988. He has been married to Virginia Grace Olson-Bonner for the last 21 years. Ken raised his family in the hospitality industry. His last, being retired proprietor of the Good Day Coffee Shop in the GEF 2 building. He was owner and proprietor of The Melody House in North Freedom and Wabeno, Freeman Shoe Company in Beloit, and ran both cafeterias at the Ohmeda plants. Ken had a family band. He also wrote and composed thousands of songs, including numerous Christmas songs that his family holds near and dear. He had a beautiful singing voice. Ken left behind a musical legacy. His family was on TV for the March of Dimes and were in the movie "The Immigrants" in the 60's. Being visually impaired, he didn't let that stop him. He never pitied himself and wouldn't have it any other way. Ken loved spending time at his cottage on Lake Arrowhead and also loved going to Ho-Chunk. He always mastered whatever he did from golfing, dancing (taught at Arthur Murray and also taught his children to dance), and playing many musical instruments. He was a pool shark, loved to camp, enjoyed working on houses and was a huge Packer fan. Ken had a great sense of humor and was a loveable jokester and loved to make people laugh. Being an avid bowler, he would bowl three days a week. He had bowled in tournaments throughout the country and had numerous 300 games. He is survived by his wife, Ginny; children, Kenn (Dody) II, Cindy Roehl, Dale Smith, Sue (Russell) Brown, Melody (Steve) Bruckner; grandchildren, Kenn III (Marissa), Kane, Patricia, Alisha, Dale Jr., Chad, Heather (Dylan) Lynch, Travis, Briana, and Bryce; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters, Marion Matteson of Janesville, Shirley (Norman) Wakeford of Natal, South Africa; brother, Robert (Marilyn) Roehl of Arlington, Texas; many nieces and nephews; and his feline companions, Blacky and Booty. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Patricia Ann Roehl; son, Patrick; sisters, Beverly Rogers, Dorothy Otto, Catherine Tasson and other in-laws. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2011, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare Foundation, 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy, Fitchburg WI 53711. A special thank you to HospiceCare for recently helping to make his lifelong dream come true, hearing his music on the radio. Even though it was a short stay, we would like to also thank the entire staff at Legacy Gardens Assisted Living for their compassion and care. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare Foundation, 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy, Fitchburg WI 53711. Visitation: Visitation will be at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Service: Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2011, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding.