January 18, 1924 - July 27, 2023
Virgil Theodore Roethler, 99, of North Liberty, formerly of Algona, passed away Thursday, July 27, 2023, at Keystone Place at Forevergreen. A memorial will be held at a later date.
Virgil was born on Jan. 18, 1924, in Bode, the son of Phillip Roethler and Veronica (Faber) Roethler. He was united in marriage to Donna Jean Vrooman on Jan.13, 1949.
Virgil served as a Tech Sgt. in the Eighth Air Force, flying as the flight engineer and tail gunner aboard a Liberator B-24 bomber in during the Rhineland-European campaign in World War II. He was the recipient the American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon as well as three Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal and the Victory Air Medal.
Virgil is survived by his wife of 74 years, Donna Roethler and eight children; David of Iowa City; Virginia, at home growing roses in St. Paul Minn.; Jacque, growing all manner of vegetables and discouraging deer in Coralville; Renee Fowler, quilting up a storm in North Liberty; Charlie, solving complex industrial electrical problems in Blue Springs, Mo.; Randy, perfecting soft speech and boundless consideration in Cupertino, Calif.; Ronald, tirelessly actuating X-ray installations throughout five states and Daniel, automating the seemingly un-automatable world wide.
Virgil was a superb father, model husband and meticulous farmer. He was invariably charming, a pleasant man who also happened to be deeply conversant in geology. He travelled with Donna collecting rocks from the western United States and rocked bowling leagues too. He created ingenious pieces of jewelry from the rocks he cut, polished and mounted. Having returned from flying missions in the darkness above the Rhineland and canoeing in the hinterlands of north central Saskatchewan well before GPS was a reality, he was careful to reassure young and perhaps overly-anxious sons and daughters that it was impossible to get yourself entirely lost - someone will always find you.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com