| Notes |
- Roger Francis Binsfeld (90) passed away at his Onalaska residence on July 15, 2017. Roger was the 2nd child born to Joseph W. Binsfeld & Veronica G. Pritzl on Feb 12, 1927 in Brillion WI. He attended St. Marys Catholic grade school and Brillion High School. After being drafted into military service in February he was granted a deferment to graduate with his class of 1945. Upon graduation, Roger was inducted into the US Army Air Corps and became a cryptographic specialist in the Army Signal Corps stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany.
After his discharge from the Army, Roger attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI on the GI Bill, obtaining a degree in economics and accounting. Throughout his life, he was quick to mention his gratitude for the GI Bill, which changed his life by giving him an opportunity he would not have had the resources to pursue. During his years in Milwaukee he met and courted Ann Marie Brennan, the daughter of river contractor James F. Brennan of La Crosse. Roger and Marie were married June 13, 1949, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. They subsequently settled on South 23rd Street of La Crosse before later spending 35 years living along the banks of the Black River on Nakomis Avenue.
Roger began working for his father-in-laws marine construction business in 1950, beginning his career catching hot rivets as part of a bridge construction crew. He found a mentor in Jim Brennan and regarded Jim as one of the greatest influences on his life. Roger would go on to build many levees, dams and industrial docks throughout the Midwestern United States. He loved his work, but even more so loved the people with whom he worked. Even in retirement, Roger never forgot the great talents of a particular tugboat pilot, welder or crane operator who may have worked at Brennan decades ago. Roger actively worked at Brennan, a family business, for nearly forty-five years, retiring from day to day duties as President of the company in 1992. Roger was also a founding partner of Brennan Marine and River Steel Corporations. Roger maintained an active interest in all Brennan work right up to the last days of his life, never failing to review daily reports, or inquire about ongoing and upcoming work.
Roger is survived by a son, Anthony (Barbara); daughter, Kathryn (David) Karademas; grandchildren: Matthew (Megan), Mark (Angela), Michael (Betsy), Adam (Beth) and Brittany (Dan) Hensgen, all of La Crosse; Claudia, Eva, Anastasia, Sophia and Alexander Karademas; along with 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Virginia Kershek; brothers: Joseph J. Binsfeld; and Richard Binsfeld; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie on March 3, 2005, a sister, Germaine Hesse, a very special friend, Mae Stanek, and best of friends, Ken & Betty Kastner.
Roger will be laid to rest next to his spouse, Marie, in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery
|
1927 - 2017 (90 years)
