Richard J. Roesch

Richard J. "Dick" Roesch, 81, of Springfield, passed away at St. John's Hospice on October 11, 2011. Dick was born on a farm in rural Loami, IL on June 26, 1930, the son of Edward B. and Agnes Walsh Roesch. There was no doctor to attend his birth. He was raised on the farm where he was born, and worked as a tractor mechanic for an Allis Chalmers farm equipment dealership for 4 years. He joined the US Air Force in 1948, serving in Texas, Wyoming & California during the Korean War. Mr. Roesch served a total of 11 years in the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. He joined the Western Electric Company in the early 1950's and worked as an Expeditor on the DEW (Distant Early Warning) line in Frobisher Bay, Canada. He married Dorothy Ludwig on December 26, 1955 at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Springfield. Mr. Roesch retired from Illinois Bell Telephone Company after 33 years, having worked as a Lineman, Cable Splicer, Installer, Dispatcher and Assigner. As a Cable Splicer, Mr. Roesch spliced the first telephone video cable serving WICS Channel 20 television station on E. Cook Street in Springfield. During his lifetime, he built or remodeled several homes, moved a house to a new location, and remodeled the barn where he lived for the last 20 years of his life. During his retirement, he farmed, raised Hereford cattle and spent winters in Tucson, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Edward Roesch and Don Roesch; sister, Mary Huddleston; and brothers-in-law, Bill Conboy and Daniel Huddleston. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Roesch of Springfield; children, Becky (husband, Jim) Neuses of Springfield, Rene (husband, Dave) Sapochak of Sherman and Richard Scott Roesch of Springfield; grandchildren, Darcy and Lance Neuses, Andrew and Michaela Sapochak; siblings, Audrey Roesch of Springfield, Evelyn Conboy of Rochester and James (wife, Gloria) Roesch of Springfield; aunt, Polly Roesch of Springfield; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St. Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 4:00 p.m. Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 17, 2011 at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence, Springfield with Rev. Peter Harman, celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in New Berlin. Memorial contributions may be made to: St. John's Hospital Hospice Program, 800 E. Carpenter, Springfield, IL 62769.