Forrest Dean Roesler

Forrest Dean Roesler, 90, of Abilene, passed away Friday, November 02, 2012. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at Zion Lutheran Church, 2801 Antilley Road. Pastor Clyde Kieschnick will officiate. Crypt side services will be held at 11:30 am on Thursday, November 8 in the Abbey Mausoleum at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Viewing will be from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home. Dean was born in Hannibal, MO on November 17, 1921 to W.C. and Helen Roesler and had one brother, Bill, all now deceased. He attended St. John Lutheran School, Central Junior High School and graduated from Hannibal Senior High School in 1939. Dean attended Chillicothe Business College, Chillicothe, MO and was employed by Magnolia Petroleum Company (now Exxon-Mobil) in September, 1941 at Mattoon, IL. He married Mildred Janice Glueck in Hannibal, MO on January 24, 1942. Mrs. Roesler died in April of 1995. They had two sons, Terry Dean and Trent Francis, both deceased. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Myra, of Snellville, GA; two nephews and several cousins. During World War II he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May, 1942 and was stationed at the Navy's Pre-Flight School in Iowa City, IA until July, 1944 when he was transferred to sea duty aboard the Battleship U.S.S. Wisconsin, BB 64. He was honorably discharged in October, 1945 as a Musician Second Class. He returned to Magnolia Petroleum Company in January, 1946 in Wichita Falls, TX. He retired in January, 1977 as Manager Labor Relations and Benefits with Mobil Pipe Line Co. (now Exxon-Mobil) in Dallas. Dean and Janice moved to Abilene from Richardson in the spring 1979. He worked for C.G. Conn and Texas Employment Commission (now Texas Workforce Commission.) Dean was a life-long Lutheran and an active member of Zion Lutheran Church. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to Zion Lutheran Church Capital Improvements Fund, 2801 Antilley Rd., Abilene, TX 79606; Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 903, Abilene, TX 79604; Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, MO 63141; or to a favorite charity of choice