Roger W. Schildgen, age 75, of Glen Haven, WI died on Monday Oct. 21, 2019 at the Grandview Healthcare Center in Oelwein, IA after his courageous battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Roger was born on April 25, 1944 in Lancaster the son of Raymond and Stella (Schmit) Schildgen. Knowing each other since 1st grade at St. Mary’s School in Glen Haven, but were not childhood sweet hearts, Roger was united in marriage to Darlene Kirschbaum on July 18, 1964 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Glen Haven.
Roger graduated in 1962 from Bloomington High School. He was engaged in farming along with working at Rapid Die & Molding in Cassville until his retirement in 2005. Wanting to stay busy, he worked at the Cassville Conservation and enjoyed trap shooting and loved the antique tractor rides. In his early years, Roger played fast pitch softball, bowled, and belonged to a rodeo company and took care of the rodeo bulls; earning the name “The bull pusher”. Above all, Roger loved spending time with his grandchildren, especially deer hunting, doing jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, reading and creating his folk art. His dedication to his family and friends, along with being a wonderful role model to many will be deeply cherished forever.
Roger is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years Darlene of Glen Haven, three children; Ben (Sherri) Schildgen of Dubuque, IA, Jamie Sue (Ronnie) Marcue of Lancaster, WI and Lincoln (Anna) Schildgen of Hartfort, WI, five grandchildren; SaRee (Brandon) Pregler, Natalie (Nick) Schildgen, Ella (Cody) Marcue, Heidi (Trevor) Marcue, Emily Bendlin, two great grandchildren; Nolan and Sienna Pregler, father Raymond Schildgen and special friend Mary Huser, two siblings; Robert (Brenda) Schildgen and Janet (Jim) Hochhausen, mother-in-law Erma Kirschbaum, brother and sister-in-laws; Gene (Coco) Kirschbaum, Pat (Steve) Ploessl, Dan (Diane) Kirschbaum, Lynn (Ann) Kirschbaum, Neil (Janet) Kirschbaum along with several special nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Roger was preceded in death by his mother Stella, uncles and aunts; Bill Schmit, Emil (Gloria) Schmit, Doris Wood, nephew Jake Schildgen, and his father-in-law Norbert Kirschbaum.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday Oct. 30, 2019 at the St Mary’s Catholic Church in Glen Haven, WI with burial to follow in the Gockel Cemetery in Glen Haven Township Grant County, WI. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church on Wednesday morning. The Larson Family Funeral Home of Fennimore is assisting the family.