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 It
is with great regret and sorrow that we must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Roger Obermeier, on 19 June at his home in Wisconsin Rapids, WI,
after a courageous two year battle with a very aggressive form of
prostate cancer.
Roger is survived by his devoted wife, Claudia; twin
daughters, Heidi Gburski of Seattle, WA and Lori Huber of Cave Creek, AZ; three
grandchildren, Alex Huber, Eric de Winter Gburski and Michael Huber; and five
siblings, Richard (Priscilla) Obermeier of Waupaca, WI, Romie (Theresa)
Obermeier of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Donna (John) Demski of Wisconsin Rapids, WI,
Joan (Kenneth) Gebert of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, and Mary (David) Konopaci of
Plover, WI.
One Memorial Mass for
Roger will be at the Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Wisconsin Rapids,
WI on Wednesday, June 27, at 11:00 AM. A second service may be scheduled in
Arizona at a later time.
Condolences may be sent to Claudia at 530 South Biron
Drive, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations
to American Cancer Hope Lodge at 611 W. Doege Street, Marshfield, WI 54449 or
to YLC c/o JROTC, Marcos de Niza High School, 6000 South Lakeshore Drive, Tempe,
AZ 85283.
Well done, Roger. Be thou at peace.
Remembrances:
Class Memorial Pages\D-2 Roger Obermeier.pdf
My father, William H.
Sievers (Class of 61), and Roger were very close friends. My parents Bill and
Jane became close friends with Roger and Claudia.
Roger and Claudia had twins named Lori and Heidi who were close friends of mine.
Many summers in middle school were spent at the Officer's club pool and at days
throughout the years each other's homes. Even after the years and moves to other
cities, our families remain close. Roger was always kind, caring, and funny.
Both he a Claudia, reared great daughters -- who are still my friends today!
Roger believed in loyalty, dependability, and patriotism. He passed these and
other values onto his girls.
My prayers are with Claudia, Lori, Heidi and the rest of the family during this
sad time and know that I loved your Dad, too. We'll all miss him. I'm sending
you a hug.
Victoria Sievers Sullivan
Roger was my brother n law for whom I
had so much admiration. A dedicated man to family,friends and his country.
He served his country in so many ways and passed the torch to his ROTC cadets.
He had the patience of a saint which I first experienced when he took me out to
play golf after just learning!! He was a trooper until the end and will
always be remembered for his mild but determined manor and his beautiful smile.
Your family misses you so much.
Connie Claydon
I served with Roger at Ft Sill from 75-79. We were both assigned to III Corps
Arty but more importantly, we were handball partners for those years. We did
very well winning both III corps doubles championships and Post championships
several times during this period. He subsequently move to Ft Hood while I
remained at Sill but we did get together at Hood on several occasions. I cherish
those days at Sill and remember Roger as a great competitor and friend. Rest in
peace Roger and hit those balls well.
Bill Tredennick '65
Obituaries:
Roger W. Obermeier, age 75, of Wisconsin
Rapids, WI and Gilbert, AZ passed away on Tuesday, June 19, 2012.
A memorial Mass will be held at a later date in Wisconsin Rapids, WI and in
Gilbert, AZ.
Roger was born October 31, 1936 in Marshfield, WI to William and Genevieve
(Schirpke) Obermeier. He graduated from Assumption High School in 1955 and
attended Marquette University and graduated from West Point in 1961. Roger spent
23 years in the service including two tours in Vietnam and one tour in Korea.
Roger retired as a lieutenant colonel.
After retiring Roger moved to Gilbert, AZ in 1984 and taught JROTC at Marcos de
Niza High School in Tempe, AZ for 16 years.
Roger married Claudia Reinarz on May 25, 1968 and she survives him. Roger is
also survived by twin daughters, Heidi Gburski of Seattle, WA and Lori Huber of
Cave Creek, AZ; three grandchildren, Alex Huber, Eric de Winter Gburski and
Michael Huber; and five siblings, Richard (Priscilla) Obermeier of Waupaca, WI,
Romie (Theresa) Obermeier of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Donna (John) Demski of
Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Joan (Kenneth) Gebert of Wisconsin Rapids, WI and Mary
(David) Konopaci of Plover, WI.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents.
Donations can be made to American Cancer Hope Lodge at 611 W. Doege Street,
Marshfield, WI 54449 or to YLC c/o JROTC at Marcos de Niza High School at 6000
South Lakeshore Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283.
Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids, WI is handling all arrangements.
Roger William Obermeier
Born October 31, 1936
Died June 19th 2012
Roger attended Saint Lawrence and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Schools. He
went to the seminary right after 8th grade for 6 months. He graduated from
Assumption High School the first graduating class of 1955. He attended Marquette
University for 1 year and then was appointed to West Point Academy where he
graduated in 1961. He dedicated his life to the military. He spent 23 years in
the military and had hardship tours: 5 years in Germany and 2 years in Vietnam
and 1 year in Korea. We lived in South Dakota and Roger taught ROTC there, he
was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington state, Fort Sill in Oklahoma and Fort
Hood in Texas. He retired in 1984 at Fort Hood in Texas and we moved to Arizona
to be closer to family.
His heart was still with the military. He was an engineer and he had a job offer
with an engineering company but took a job as a officer training Corp, JROTC
instructor in Tempe, Arizona from 1994-2007. He dedicated himself to teaching
and! to the students. He started with 88 cadets and ended up with 250 cadets.
When he was so sick laying in that hospital bed he told me that and that brought
a smile to his face. He took his rifle team to nationals one year and they flew
to the east coast. He promoted careers to his students through the military
academies. After a hard days work at Marcus De Niza High School, you could find
Roger and Sergeant Tinsley (best friend) at the golf course. Roger said to
Sergeant Tinsley let's go get a grip on it at the golf course. So they would go.
After retirement, Roger enjoyed driving the school bus so the students could go
to their sporting activities after school. He would st! ay and w atch whatever
sport there was and then drive the students back to school. He played golf
almost every day with Jack and then they would go to thebagel shop to talk in
Arizona. When he was in Wisconsin, he would golf with Romie Obermeier (his
brother) and Frank Lela (best friend) everyday and then go to McDonalds to talk
.
He was a Patriotic Education Leader for Apache Trail Chapter of Military Order
of World Wars in Mesa, Arizona and the entire East Valley . The annual JROTC
cadet of the year program for the East Valley will be a lasting memorial to his
endeavors. Roger was a principal organizer of the Chapter�s Armed Forces
Career Officers Day in which provided information to thousands of Junior ROTC
cadets on career opportunities as commissioned officers. There is also going to
be a memorial golf tournament in his honor to raise money for Assumption High
School in Wisconsin Rapids on July 15th every year. Romie and Frank are the
people that are responsible for bringing a lot of Roger�s friends to see him
before he passed away through this golf tournament and are going to continue to
do this yearly.
Roger married Claudia Reinarz May 25, 1968 who was his devoted wife and had twin
girls who were born May 5, 1969. He is survived by wife Claudia, Daughter Heidi
(Chris) Gburski, Grandson Eric de winter Gburski, Daughter Lori (Dan) Huber,
Grandsons Alex and Michael Huber. Brothers: Richard (Priscella) from Waupaca,
Wisconsin, Romie (Theresa) Obermeier Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Sisters, Donna
(John) Demski Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Joan (Kenneth) Gebert, Mary (
David)Knopaci Plover, Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Genevieve Obermeier. Roger
Obermeier you will be missed but never forgotten. Thank you for helping us out
with everything and every life that you have touched with your gentle soul.
Heidi Gburski
Taps Memorial Article:
Roger W. Obermeier 1961
Cullum No. 23625 • Jun 19, 2012 • Died in Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Cremated. Inurned.
Roger William Obermeier
attended Saint Lawrence and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Schools. He went
to the seminary for six months right after eighth grade. He graduated from
Assumption High School the first graduating Class of 1955. He attended
Marquette University for one year and then was appointed to West Point Academy
where he graduated with the Class of 1961.
He spent 23 years in the
military and had several hardship tours: five years in Germany, two years in
Vietnam, and one year in Korea. He lived in South Dakota and taught ROTC
there. He was also stationed at Fort Lewis, WA, Fort Sill, OK, and Fort Hood,
TX. He retired in 1984 and moved to Arizona to be closer to his family. His
heart was still with the military, though.
He was an engineer and had a
job offer with an engineering company, but he took a job as a JROTC instructor
in Tempe, Arizona from 1994-2007. He dedicated himself to teaching and to the
students. He started with 88 cadets and ended up with 250 cadets. When he was
so sick lying in that hospital bed he returned to this accomplishment, and it
brought a smile to his face. He took his rifle team to nationals one year and
they flew to the east coast. He promoted careers to his students through the
military academies. After a hard day’s work at Marcus De Niza High School, you
could find Roger and Sergeant Jack Tinsley (his best friend) at the golf
course. After retirement, Roger enjoyed driving a school bus so the students
could go to their sporting activities after school. He would stay and watch
whatever sport there was and then drive the students back to school. He played
golf almost every day with Jack and then they would go to a bagel shop in
Arizona to talk. When he was in Wisconsin, he would golf with Romie and Frank
everyday and then go to McDonalds to talk.
He was a Patriotic Education
Leader for the Apache Trail Chapter of Military Order of World Wars in Mesa,
AZ, and the entire East Valley. The annual JROTC cadet of the year program for
the East Valley will be a lasting memorial to his endeavors. Roger was a
principal organizer of the chapter’s Armed Forces Career Officers Day, which
provided information to thousands of Junior ROTC cadets about their career
opportunities as commissioned officers. There is also going to be an annual
memorial golf tournament on July 15 in his honor to raise money for Assumption
High School in Wisconsin Rapids. Romie Obermeier (Roger’s brother) and Frank
Lela (best friend) are responsible for bringing a lot of Roger’s friends to
see him before he passed away through this golf tournament, and they are going
to continue to do this yearly.
Roger married Claudia
Reinarz on May 25, 1968, and they had twin girls born on May 5, 1969. He is
survived by wife, Claudia; daughter, Heidi (Chris) Gburski; grandson, Eric de
winter Gburski; daughter, Lori (Dan) Huber; grandsons Alex and Michael Huber;
brothers: Richard (Priscella) from Waupaca, WI, and Romie (Theresa) Obermeier
from Wisconsin Rapids, WI; and sisters, Donna (John) Demski, Wisconsin Rapids,
WI; Joan (Kenneth) Gebert, and Mary (David) Knopaci, Plover, WI. He was
preceded in death by his parents Bill and
Genevieve Obermeier.
Roger Obermeier, you will be
missed but never forgotten. Thank you for helping us out with everything and
for every life that you have touched with your gentle soul.
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