Herbert Roethler Jr.

Herbert J. Roethler Jr., age 89 of New Hampton, formerly of Nashua and Ionia, died Monday, May 9, 2011, at the New Hampton Care Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 13, 2011, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Ionia, with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by Herbert's three daughters. Lectors for the service is Sister Carla Popes and Theresa Buss. Giftbearers are Richard Kalkbrenner and Gary Halvorson. Music for the service will be provided by Ann Bennett, organist and the Immaculate Conception Men's Choir. Interment will be in St. Boniface Cemetery, Ionia with Chris Roethler, Dale Roethler, Dave Roethler, Dana Kiene, Michael Hiltgen and Bob Friedman serving as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers are Shelly (Tony) Kozak, Lori (Dana) Kiene, Christine (Michael) Hiltgen, Adam Eickhoff and Jacob Halvorson. Military honors will be conducted by the Nashua VFW Post. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 7:00 p.m. scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the funeral at church. Herbert John Roethler Jr. was born May 15, 1921, in West Bend, IA, the son of Herbert and Clara (Fishbach) Roethler. He received his education in three Chickasaw County, Iowa country schools, Jacksonville Township, West of Ionia and in Deerfield Township. He entered the United States Coast Guard on November 16, 1942, and was honorably discharged on November 17, 1945. On April 19, 1944, in Asbury Park, NJ, he married Rose Mae Green. To this union three daughters were born. The couple briefly farmed near North Washington and then moved to Ionia where they farmed until retiring. His wife Rose died on October 2, 2000, at the age of 74. On October 2, 2003, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Ionia, he married Mary Popes Mahoney. The couple resided between their homes in Ionia and Nashua until Herb became a resident at the New Hampton Care Center in April 2010. He enjoyed puzzles, playing cards, dancing and always made time to visit. Survivors include his wife, Mary; three daughters, Mary (David) Sandberg of Waynesville, MO, Jean (Richard) Kalkbrenner of Ankeny and Patricia (Gary) Halvorson of Alta Vista; four grandchildren, Shelly (Tony) Kozak of Bejing, China, Lori (Dana) Kiene of Ankeny, Christine (Michael) Hiltgen of Ankeny and Adam Eickhoff of Charles City; five great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Veronica Roethler of Alta Vista; his wife’s children, Susan (Bob) Kreiner of Brooklyn, IA, Theresa (Brad) Buss of Waverly, Virgene (Neal) Huegel of New Hampton, Laureen (Dean) Nelson of Plainview, MN, Kathleen (Randy) Mitchell of New Hampton, Stephen (Sue) Mahoney of Ionia, Patrick (Judy) Mahoney of Kersey, CO, Michael (Brenda) Mahoney of Nashua, Phillip (Mary) Mahoney of New Hampton, Timothy (Rose) Mahoney of Martinsville, IN, Matthew (Marie) Mahoney of Ionia; 31 step-grandchildren; 16 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Rose Mae; two great-grandchildren, Lily and John Hiltgen; two sons-in-law, Joe Wheeler and Roger Schmidt; two brothers, Francis Roethler and Clair Roethler; one sister-in-law, Norma Roethler.