ROLL, Doug, Jr. 1922-2009

ROLL, ADAMS, DAY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/3/2009 at 16:25:42

#1:

Doug Roll Jr.

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Doug Roll, Jr., age 87, of St. Ansgar, died on Sunday, August 2, 2009, at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Society in St. Ansgar.

Private graveside inurnment services will be held at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Mitchell, with the Rev. Peter Chang officiating. Military rites will be provided by the Walter T. Enneberg American Legion Post 358 of St. Ansgar.

Doug was born on March 2, 1922, in Eldora, the son of Douglas and Hilda (Day) Roll, Sr. Doug graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1939. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 and served during World War II.

Doug was united in marriage to Edna Adams, on December 10, 1969, in Norfolk, Nebraska. They made their home in St. Ansgar, where they owned and operated a ceramic shop. Doug enjoyed painting, fishing, camping and woodworking. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and Washington Redskins.

Doug is survived by his wife, Edna Roll, of St. Ansgar; three daughters, Judy (Dennis) Beyer, of Fredericksburg, Kathy (Steven) Weipert, of New Hampton, Dorothy (Irvin) Nystel, of New Hampton; two sons, Dennis Tabor, of Floyd, Jody (Linda) Roll, of Mason City; a sister, Dorothy Kuenkel, of Tempe, Arizona; a brother, Keith (Alice) Roll, of Norfolk, Nebraska; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, 641-732-3706, is in charge of arrangements.

[Published in the Globe Gazette online, 8/3/2009]

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#2:

Doug Roll Jr., age 87, of St. Ansgar died at 6:50 a.m. Sunday, August 2, 2009 at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Society in St. Ansgar Iowa.

Doug was born March 2, 1922 in Eldora Iowa the son of Douglas and Hilda (Day) Roll, Sr. And he graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1939. In 1941 Doug joined the Army Air Corp and served with his Bombardment Group H in World War II.

Doug was united in marriage to Edna (Lambert) Adams on Dec. 10, 1969 at Norfolk Nebraska. They made their home in St. Ansgar where they owned and operated a Cermaic Shop. Doug enjoyed painting, fishing, camping and woodworking. And was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Redskins.

Private Graveside Inurnment services will be held at the Oak Grove Cemetary in Mitchell on Wednesday August 5th at 10:30 a.m. Military rites will be provided by the Walter T. Enneberg American Legion Post 358 of St. Ansgar. The Rev. Peter Chang officiated and the eulogy was read by Dennis Tabor. Amazing Grace was sang by those in attendance, and a white dove was released at Dougs request. The children each released a white ballon and his wife released a red ballon.

A family luncheon will be served afterwards in the shelter house at the Mitchell Park on Doug's beloved Cedar River.

Doug is suvived by his wife Edna Roll of St. Ansgar; three daughters, Judy (Dennis) Beyer of Fredericksburg, Iowa, Kathy (Steven) Weipert of New Hampton, Iowa, Dorothy (Irvin) Nystel of New Hampton, one step-son Dennis Tabor of Floyd, and one son, Jody (Linda) Roll of Mason City, Iowa.

Doug is also survived by one sister, Dorothy Vera Kuenkel of Tempe, Arizona, and a brother, Keith W. Roll of Norfolk, Nebraska. Several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death only by his parents.

-- St. Ansgar man takes "Sentimental Journey" --

Doug Roll of St. Ansgar relived an event of 63 years ago when he got out of a B-17 bomber this past Monday (July 21) and kissed the ground at Mason City Municipal Airport.

Roll, 86, got a ride in the bomber, aptly named "Sentimental Journey," as part of festivities marking the beginning of the plane being on display through Thursday at the airport.

Roll rode near the nose of the plane Monday, the same position he had in August of 1945 when his bomber came home from England and landed at Bradley Field in Connnecticut. He kissed the ground then and a photo of him appeared in Life magazine.

He kissed the ground in Mason City this time, admitting that getting on the ground and getting back up was a little harder Monday than it was 63 years ago.

"That was really something," he said as he emerged from the plane. "It was a sentimental journey, I'll tell you that. I thought I'd cry but I didn't."

Then he flashed a "thumbs up" to family and friends who had gathered to watch the flight.

Roll was in the Army Air Corps during World War II and took specialized bomb training in Great Falls, Mont.

He was in the 390th Bomb Group, 571st Squad, which went to England to service bombers and prepare bombs.

The exhibit of the plane is sponsored by the Commemorative Air Force, a group of 175 Air Force veterans who volunteer their time to take vintage aircraft around the country so the public can see them.

Dave Bender, tour director for the Commemorative Air Force, greeted Roll before the flight and asked him where he lived.

"St. Ansgar - the only one in the world," said Roll.

Asked if he was ready to fly, he replied, "I'm excited - 63 years is a long time. I'm getting kind of antsy."

Bill Kasik of Clear Lake rode with Roll. He spent three years in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Kasik said he had ridden in B-17s before, "but this was wonderful; the best ride I've had."

The B-17 "Flying Fortress," as it was called, was famous for daylight bombing raids over Germany during World War II. Only about 10 restored and airworthy examples remain of the 12,731 that were built.

[Credit to J. Roll -- Findagrave}

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#3:

PHOTO BELOW IS DOUG'S ST. ANSGAR HIGH SCHOOL, 1939 SENIOR CLASS PORTRAIT.

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