Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such, the second death has no
power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ.
Ronald Leo Roehl was born on October 20, 1933, God’s gift to Ervin Roehl and his wife Leona, née Hornburg, Roehl. The Spirit of God gave Ron a part in the first resurrection, the rebirth of his soul from spiritual death through the gracious washing of Baptism. That faith was nourished by Christian education in his home life, along with his two older brothers, Bob and Larry. That education was also supplemented by his faithful attendance at church and Christian day school. He was confirmed in the Christian faith in 1947. Ron went on to Winnebago Academy for his high school years and then attended Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, graduating in 1954 with a degree in teaching. Throughout his life Ron enjoyed all kinds of sports, including basketball, football, baseball and track. He was a junior college All-American in basketball and in 2008 was inducted into the Bethany Lutheran College Hall of Fame.
Revelation 19:9
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
On July 6, 1957, the Lord Jesus united Ron in a Christ-centered marriage with Eunice, née Naumann. The two were lifelong companions traveling the path through life and toward heaven. They were blessed with one daughter and three sons.
Ron began his teaching career in the kingdom of God by starting a grade school in Granada Hills, California. He then was a teacher and coach at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Revelation 14:13
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Ron was among the founding members of the Church of the Lutheran Confession. He served many roles in the new church body. He was a delegate to most of the synod’s conventions. He acted as the convention moderator for twenty-two years. He was a member of various boards and committees throughout his lifetime. He likewise served his present church, Messiah Lutheran, as a voter, as president, as a member of different boards, and as Sunday school superintendent.
In 1960, Ron accepted the call to labor in the newly formed Immanuel Lutheran High School in Mankato, Minnesota. In 1963, he was part of the school’s move to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. An effective and loving teacher, Ron labored for Immanuel (and Jesus, THE Immanuel) in a number of ways outside of the classroom. He spent many seasons as coach for basketball, baseball, and track; and served as Dean of Students for twenty years.
Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that
they may have the right to the tree of life and may
enter through the gates into the city.
On January 19 of this year, Ron’s dear wife Eunice entered the gates of heaven. Few suspected that God’s plan called for Ron to enter the same heavenly gates only forty-eight days later. In the last minutes of March 8, after a brief illness, Ron’s earthly journey of eighty-five years, four months and sixteen days ended with the Savior’s special gift of eternal life. In addition to his wife of sixty-one years and his daughter Laurie, Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bob and his wife Jeanette, and sister-in-law Charlotte Roehl. The members of Ron’s family who are still in their time of God’s grace are: his son Ross and his wife Lynette of Eau Claire and their two daughters; his son Mike and his wife Sandy of Bismarck, North Dakota and their two daughters and one son; his daughter’s family, Dean Marzofka of Menomonie, Wisconsin, and their two daughters and one son; his son Dan and his wife Jennifer of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and their three daughters; his brother Larry of Campbellsport, Wisconsin; seven great -grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a host of former students and friends, especially in his church family, near and far.