Otto Robert Roesler

Otto Robert Roesler, age 84, died June 12, 2012, from injuries suffered in a fall a week earlier. He was born August 30, 1927, to Otto G. and Lucy (Amthauer) Roesler at the family homestead in Blakely Township, Geary County, KS.

Otto – known to many throughout his life as "Buddy" – attended Rosey School and graduated from Junction City High School, class of 1945. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1948 with the Occupation Forces in Korea. He attended Kansas State University on a track scholarship, and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. He graduated from KSU in 1952 with a BS degree in Agriculture.

Otto married Rose Mary Gfeller on June 1, 1952. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary two weeks ago. Otto and Rose Mary lived on the Thomas Creek homestead, operating a Grade A dairy farm until they retired to Junction City in 1991. Otto was an active 4-H'er as a youth and as an adult leader. He was the J.C. Outstanding Young Farmer in 1957. He and Rose Mary were one of the Host Farms for the 1986 Governor's Farm Tour. He served at various times on the Blakely Township Board, the Geary County Extension Board, the Rural School Board, the Geary County Zoning Board, the Farm Bureau Board, and the FHA Board.

Otto lived an extraordinarily productive retirement. He spent many days and thousands of volunteer hours in service to the Geary County Historical Board, Highland Cemetery (where he was a board member), and all around the Junction City and Milford Lake area. He was "Mr. Tree Trimmer", and his white pickup was often seen around town loaded with branches he was hauling to the burn site. In 1996 when the FEI World Endurance Horse Race was held in the Geary County Flint Hills, Otto placed the path markers along the entire 100-mile course. Otto and Rose Mary received the Geary County Extension Service Family of the Year Award in 2006. He also received the 2010 Service to Mankind (Sertoma) Award.

Otto is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Lucille (Frank) Duffy and Edith (Ernest) Guntermann, and brother Herman (Bettie) Roesler. He is survived by his wife Rose Mary, and three children: Harold (Kathy) Roesler of Rose Hill, KS, Keith (Christina) Roesler of Urbandale, IA, and Karen (Mike) Malec of Junction City. He is also survived by five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Otto was a lifelong member of Zion United Church of Christ: baptism, confirmation, wedding, and now funeral. A funeral service at Zion United Church of Christ, 1811 McFarland Rd. in Junction City, will be Saturday morning, June 16, 2012 at 10:30am. Calling hours with the family will be Friday evening at the church from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Zion United Church of Christ, 1811 McFarland Rd, Junction City, KS 66441 or to the Geary County Historical Society, 530 N. Adams St., Junction City, KS 66441.