Oswin M. Semmler

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. — Oswin Marcus Semmler Jr., also known as Duke, died in Florida on May 31, 2012. He was born in Ashton on July 24, 1919 to Clara (Wagner) and Oswin Semmler, the second of four children. He worked on his dad’s farm when he was younger, and he then went off to World War II where he was stationed overseas and in Hawaii. He met Joyce Stacy Heath prior to going to war, and when he returned they were married on April 2, 1946. Duke and Joyce had two children, Brian Charles and Judy Kay. Duke went on to work for the Illinois Department of Transportation, then for Raynor Garage Doors. After leaving that job, he owned his own jewelry store on Route 251 south of Rochelle, called Skyway Jewelry. The store burned down in 1960, but he rebuilt and continued to own it for several years. He was then the sexton at Lawnridge Cemetery and worked for the Rochelle Post Office for many years, until retirement. Duke and Joyce had many, many close friends in the Rochelle area, and were part of a lively card club that would meet monthly. They were also members of the First Presbyterian Churches in Rochelle, Franklin Grove and Englewood, Fla. Duke was also a member of bowling leagues in Rochelle for many years, was a member of the local VFW and the Moose Club. In the 1980s Duke and Joyce started wintering in Englewood, Fla. They moved to Florida full-time in 2009. Duke was preceded in death by his mother; his father; his stepmother, Pearle; and his sister, Evelyn. Survivors include his son, Brian (Emma) Semmler of Naples, Fla.; his daughter, Judy (Pete) Kauk of Englewood, Fla.; his sister, Esther “Bunny” (Ray) Appler of Oregon; his brother, Russell (Brigitte) Semmler of Naperville; his grandchildren, Marcy (Jason) Shortuse of Port Charlotte, Fla., Shane (Shelly) Semmler of Moville, Ia., and Shawn Semmler of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was great-grandfather to Rowyn, Keagan, Rory and Eirinn Shortuse, and to Bailey and Sebastian Semmler. He was a very kind man who loved his family and friends beyond measure, who loved to laugh and relax at Lake Koshkonong, Wis. on the weekends, and who took yearly fishing trips to the Rainbow River on the Minnesota/Canadian border. Services are being arranged through the Coulon-Lyons Funeral Home in Rochelle. The visitation will be held at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 9 at the funeral home in Rochelle and graveside services will take place at Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle directly following the visitation. There will be a luncheon afterward at the V.F.W. in Rochelle.