Peter F. Roehsler

Peter F. Roehsler

AGE: 70 • Sayreville

Peter F. Roehsler, 70, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. Born in Mineola, NY, he lived in Sayreville for the last forty-one years. Prior to settling in Sayreville, he lived in Roslyn, NY; Kennett Square, PA; Sarasota, FL; Los Angeles, CA; and Trenton, as well as East Brunswick, NJ. Peter lived a well traveled and journeyed life. He worked for the Sailor Circus in Sarasota; owned his own construction company, PRC Constructors Inc.; and, with his wife, Donna, owned Viking International Corporation, a heavy hauling trucking and construction equipment sales company; Viking Terminal Marine, a distributor of products for the commercial marine industry; and Viking Terminal Company, an industrial park located in Sayreville. In the fall of 1975, he made national news by driving his lowbed trailer from Sayreville to Buffalo, NY with an 8' X 16' sign asking "Precious Donna" to marry him. Although it took a few days of driving around the streets of Buffalo, she finally said yes and they were married in January, 1976. Peter was an accomplished and talented woodworker, designing and building much of the furniture in his home. In addition, he built the rowing skiff "Nifty" for his daughter, Kersten. He loved to cook and to share his creations with family and friends. He sorely missed his German shepherd, Gunther, his best friend. A man of principles, Peter and his wife represented themselves numerous times in litigation - once all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. Peter truly was a rugged individualist.

He was predeceased by his sister, Gretchen. He is survived by his much loved wife of thirty-five years, Donna (nee Socorso), and his beloved daughter, Kersten, of East Brunswick. He is also survived by three children from a previous marriage, Veronica Gallagher of Hockessin, DE; David of Elkton, MD; and John of Wilmington, DE, and their families.

Friends may call at The Brunswick Memorial Home, 454 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick on Friday from 3:00 to 5:00pm where a memorial service will be held at 4:30pm. Memorial services will continue at the residence. For directions, please visit www.brunswickmemorialhome.com In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Peter's memory to the Innocence Project, 40 Worth Street, Suite 701, New York, NY 10013 Attention: Development Department (212) 364-5355; the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, 27 Atlantic Highway, Edgecomb, ME 04556 (207) 882-9677; or your favorite charity.