Charles Roessler

Roessler, Charles J. CROSS PLAINS - Charles J. Roessler, age 76, died on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, at Meriter Hospital in Madison. Charles was born July 28, 1931, in Bear Valley and was the son of the late Anthony and Apollonia (Schmitz) Roessler. After high school, he was drafted into the U.S. Army on Oct. 17, 1951. His basic training was done at Schofield Training Center in Hawaii. After basic he served his country in the Far East Command during the Korean War. Upon discharge, he immediately started apprenticeship training in carpentry with the John Schmid Company in Plain. After training, he worked briefly for Ed Kraemer and Sons. He was, however, drawn to carpentry work and worked many years for Marshall Erdman and Associates, supervising the building of medical clinics throughout the United States, his family having many fond memories of traveling with him during the summer months when school ended. Later he started his own construction company and was president of Roessler and Sons Construction, taking great pride in the company and also having great patience teaching his sons the carpentry trade. As everyone who knew Charles will tell you, his dog, Rusty, was always with him on the job. During this time, he also served as president of the Cross Plains Businessmens Association. When Charles wasnt working, he loved fishing, gardening, snowmobiling, dancing and was always ready for a beer and a game of euchre with his buddies. On Sept. 7, 1953, he married Alice Meixelsperger in St. Lukes Church in Plain and together they raised their family. Charlie married Kay Yager Dodd on Sept. 14, 1994, in Pikes Peak, Iowa. He is survived by sons, Greg (Kathy), Mike (Janet), Chuck (Mary) and David (Luanne); daughters, Mary (Larry) Cushman, Joanne (Greg) Smith, Marlene (Kevin) Von Behren and Jeanette (Kevin) Acker; a brother, Gilbert (Betty); sisters, Anita (Cletus) Gruber, Mary Ann Gruber and Veronica (Bob) Junion; sister-in-law, Janet Roessler; his present wife, Kay (Yager) Dodd; Kays children, Kevin and Robyn Dodd-Wilson (Allen) and grandchildren, Waylon Dodd, Casey, Alex and Max Dodd-Wilson. Charles is also survived by his 20 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews to carry on memories and stories of all the fun times with their grandfather/uncle. He was preceded in death by a brother, Anthony; sisters, Charlotte Graham and Irene Goodlett and brothers-in-law, John Graham, Charles Goodlett and Bill Gruber. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2947 Thinnes St., Cross Plains, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 27, 2007, with Father Thomas Kelley presiding. Family and friends may call at the church on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. and also on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Memorials may be made to St. Francis School Endowment Fund or to Cross Plains American Legion, of whom Charles was a member. At this time we want to acknowledge and thank Father Tom, Sister John Rose and Dr. Jarzemsky for their kindness, prayers, blessings and for all their help with our family at this time of sorrow. We also wish to thank the doctors and nurses at Meriter Hospital and the Middleton EMS for their loving care.