John Roesch, Sr.

John Robert Roesch, Sr., age 91, of Oshkosh, WI, (formerly of Ripon, WI) passed away on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at Ripon Medical Center, with his loving family by his side.

John was born in Whiting, IN on June 27, 1930, the son of Willard and Florence (Higgins) Roesch. He graduated from Hammond Tech Vocational High School in 1949 and went on to serve our country in the U.S. Marines during the Korean Conflict. He served from 1950 until 1951 and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. In 1953 he married Kathryn Bachman, his nurse who cared for him after he was wounded in battle. He then continued his education at Purdue University where he received a bachelor's degree in Engineering in 1957. After 38 years of marriage, Kathryn passed away in 1991. John then married Cecelia Horrigan (Gutmann) in Milwaukee in 1993. John spent most of his life as Quality Control Engineer at Speed Queen in Ripon, WI. He was very involved in the Green Lake Festival of Music and the Thrasher Opera House as he loved music and was an accomplished singer. He enjoyed riding his bicycle, walking, and being outdoors, and was an avid woodworker. John loved life. He was a social butterfly and was quick witted with jokes, and had a nickname for everyone. In 2014 John was a proud honoree of the Honor Flight to Washington D.C.. Most important to John was time spent with his family.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 28 years, Cecelia Roesch of Oshkosh, WI; six children, Mary (George) Barbiere of Cincinnati, OH, Barbara Schmidt of Plymouth, WI, Karen (Al) Haskell of Oconomowoc, WI, John (JoAnne) Roesch, Jr. of Ripon, WI, Ann (Jay) Wilcox-Meilahn of Pickett, WI, and Paula (Jerry) Paulson of Green Bay, WI; five step-children, Susan Horrigan of Waukesha, WI, Maribeth Paulmier of Pewaukee, WI, Thomas (Gabriella) Horrigan of Brookfield, WI, Daniel (Sallie) Horrigan of Savage, MN, and Patrice (Douglas) Armato of Antigo, WI; 17 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Robert Bachman; sister-in-law, Barbara Teich; and many nieces; nephews; cousins; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Florence Roesch; his first wife, Kathryn Roesch; a granddaughter, Emily Roesch; a sister, Betty (Mel) Lincoln; brother-in-law, Jack Teich; and a sister-in-law, Bernadette Bachman.

Visitation for John will be held from 9:00 am until 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, 830 S. Westhaven Dr., Oshkosh, WI 54904.

Memorial Mass for John will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church in Oshkosh, with Father Kevin Ripley officiating. The funeral mass will be livestreamed by the church at 11:00 am, click here to view LIVESTREAM . Inurnment will take place at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery, Town of Ripon, WI, followed by a Final Salute with Military Honors. Memorials in John's name may be directed to the Green Lake Festival of Music, the Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake, Habitat for Humanity, or St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church.


Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send online condolences.