William “Bill” Bernard Roxlau, 89, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away at 11:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Birkwood Village in Fort Madison. A lifelong resident of the Fort Madison area, he was born on Sept 5, 1934, to Edward and Helen Fraune Roxlau. He married Clarine “Sam” Millspaugh on June 29, 1963, and they were for married 29 years before she preceded him in death on April 25, 1992. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School, graduating from Catholic Central High School in 1952. He served in the US Army, completing basic training at Camp Chaffie, AR. He then attended classification training in electronics repairs at Fort Monmouth, NJ. He was stationed at Clark Air Force base for 2 years working with the Army Security Agency. He was honorably discharged 1957. After the service, he worked at the Sieg Company as a manager for 10 years, for the Fruehauf Company in the maintenance department, and then 24 years as a purchasing agent, for a total of 29 years. He was an active member of the Mississippi Valley Vintage Race Car Association and raced TQ Midget cars. He was an avid collector of antique military rifles and a hunter. He was also a Lifetime member of Sacred Heart Church and the Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his three children: Donni Sue (Dave Steward) Karczmarczyk and W. Patrick “Pat” Roxlau, both of Fort Madison, and Donald Allen (Debra) Sylvester, of Wever, IA; five-grandchildren: Anthony Allen (Rachel) Huber, of Kansas City, MO, Jamie Edward (Amy) Gravett of Farmington, IA, Daniel Allen Sylvester of Guttenberg, IA, Roseann Elizabeth Griffith of Farmington, IA, and Katie Marie Sylvester of Fort Madison; 9-great grandchildren; 1-sister: Mary Van Pelt of Chebanse, IL; several nieces and nephews and his special friend, Fluffy, his long-haired Chihuahua. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, 1-daughter, Mary Ann Roxlau, 1-sister, Doris Rono, 1-brother, Robert Roxlau, and 1-brother-in-law, Donald Van Pelt.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. The funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at Sacred Heart Church with Rev. Gary Beckman officiating. Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery. A memorial has been established for Lee County Hospice. Online condolences to the Roxlau family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
