Roman G. Wunderlich

1928 - 2022

Roman George Wunderlich, 93, Washington, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

Roman, son of the late Peter Wunderlich and wife Catherine, nee Ballmann, was born Nov. 4, 1928, in Washington. He received his education from St. Francis Borgia Grade School. He started working in fifth grade shining shoes and went on to work at Missouri Creamery. He wanted to go to high school but instead continued to work to help financially support his family. He later received his GED. He served his country honorably as a member of the U.S. Army and is a decorated veteran of the Korean War. After being discharged from his military service in the Korean War, he was employed by Sporlan Valve company until retirement.

On Feb. 20, 1954, he was united in marriage to Mary Louise Filla at St. Francis Borgia Church. Roman was a devoted father, who with Mary Lou, created a welcoming home for his family and all who visited. He loved Cardinals baseball, barbecues, road trips with family, planting and caring for trees, and cutting, hauling and burning wood. He was well known for his homemade "Romie Wine" and white sauce barbecue chicken. Roman was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Elks, American Legion Post 218 and V.F.W. Post 2661. He was a faithful Catholic, and by his humble example showed his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the importance of loving and serving God.

Among his survivors are his wife, Mary Louise Wunderlich, Washington; four children, Lynn Florence, Diane Overschmidt and husband Paul, all of Washington, Michael Wunderlich and wife Merry, Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, and Julia Ruether and husband Gregg, Washington; grandchildren, Sarah Langford and husband Jeff, Jennifer Patterson and husband Brian, Jessica Monsen, Zachary Florence, Andrea Aufmuth and husband Sam, Tyler Florence, Matthew Florence, Kimberly Chew, Kelly Harness, John Overschmidt and wife Delia, Marc Overschmidt and wife Alina, Bryan Sutton and wife Stephanie, Amanda Fahy and husband David, Mitchell Ruether and wife Abbie, Andrew Ruether and Natalie Love and husband Zeb; 24 great-grandchildren, Cole, Mason, Gabrielle, and Hunter Roman Langford, Samuel, Joshua, and Isabelle Patterson, Kaden, KeKoa, and Stella Rome Monsen, Dilynn, Grayson, and Ryder Aufmuth, Amelia and Addison Florence, Olivia and Brooks Overschmidt, Olivia and Trevor Sutton, Kenton Greene, Austin and Sutton Fahy, Jack Roman and Lyla Ruether; sisters, Dolores Dobsch and Donna and Robert "Red" Noelker; sisters-in-law, Marge Wunderlich, Marian Wunderlich, Florentine "Dodie" Wunderlich and Dorothy Filla; nieces; nephews; other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; eight siblings, Walter Wunderlich, Clarence Wunderlich and wife Rita, Maurice Wunderlich, Norbert Wunderlich, Jim Wunderlich and wife Glenda, Helen Engemann and husband Virgil, Elsie Kleekamp and husband Gus, and Catherine Winkeler and husband Robert "Bob;" brothers- and sisters-in-law, Roman Dobsch, Rosemary "Totsy" Freitag and husband Eloy, Anthony "Tony" Filla and wife Dolores, James "Jim" Filla and wife Ina, and Lou Filla; and grandson, Nathaniel Florence.

Visitation was scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30, from 5-8 p.m. at Nieburg-Vitt, Miller Funeral Home, with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:30 p.m.

A Mass of Catholic burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Interment, with full military honors, will be at St. Francis Borgia Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Masses (preferred), St. Vincent de Paul or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The Wunderlich family is being served by Nieburg-Vitt, Miller Funeral Home, Washington.