Roman (Romie) A. Hausfeld, age 96 of Maria Stein, passed away on April 16, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. at LanePark, in Sidney, Ohio, after an Easter celebration with his family.

Romie was born on his family's home place in Maria Stein on October 12, 1920, to Leo and Armella (Eifert) Hausfeld. He was the oldest of nine children and graduated in 1938 from St. John School in Maria Stein. In 1948, he married Mildred (Mude) Davis. She preceded him in death on May 1, 2013, after 64 years of marriage.

Romie was a WWII Navy veteran, serving his country from 1943 to 1946. Assigned to the USS Walker DD517, he was a flagman and radioman, and during battles he manned the ship's #1 gun. He participated in operations in the Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, Dutch New Guinea, Mariana and the invasions of Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa.

Romie served as an American Legion District Commander and as Commander of the Maria Stein Legion. He was a life-time member of both the American Legion and the VFW. He was also a life-time member of St. John Catholic Church, Maria Stein, where he served as an usher, a greeter and also sang in the choir for over 30 years.

Romie retired from Goodyear Tire and Rubber in St. Marys after working for 41 years. He also sold insurance, and he managed the Knights of St. John Hall in Maria Stein for over 20 years.

He was a gracious gardener who planted to share. He enjoyed traveling and mowing lawns at break-neck speed on his riding mower. He loved both watching and playing sports, shooting hoops in his backyard through his 80s. In his younger years, he played basketball with the St. John Tigers and Goodyear Wing Foots. He also played softball/baseball with the Maria Stein Station and Cassella Owls.

He was an avid follower of the Reds and the Bengals. He loved to dance and could jitterbug a rug out from under anyone. He loved reading newspapers and magazines. He had a great sense of humor and never missed the opportunity to read the Sunday comics to his children.

Most important, Romie was a loving husband and an outstanding father. He taught all of his children how to ride a bike and swim. He knew no stranger, and his love for life and appreciation for people will always be remembered.

Romie leaves behind his family, who will sorely miss him and his joy of life. They include Marilyn Hausfeld, Miamisburg; Pat Clough, Centerville; Marti Hissong, Centerville; Theresa (PJ) Garlock, Lima; Joannie (Jan) Kentner, Wapakoneta; Joe (Lisa) Hausfeld, West Carrollton; and Ann (Mike) Bollheimer, Ft. Loramie. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and brother and sisters Madonna Goecke, Maria Stein; Agnes Schulze, Maria Stein; Greg (Joan) Hausfeld, St. Marys; Esther (Bill) Willke, Dayton; and Jeanette Bruns, Dayton. One sister-in-law, Esther Davis, survives in St. Henry, Ohio.

He is preceded in death by a son, Robert "Bob" Hausfeld, and a son-in-law, David Hissong; in-law parents, Alfred and Bernadine (Romer) Davis; two brothers, Ivo Hausfeld and Urban Hausfeld; one sister, Rosanna Kleinhenz; and brother/sister-in-laws Omer Bruns, Richard Schulze, Robert Kleinhenz, Louis (Bing) Goecke, Margie Hausfeld, Thelma (Rich) Fiely, Verna (Girard) Thomas, Mary (Louis) Alexander, Laura (William) King and Leota (Gerald) Fink.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Maria Stein, Ohio, with Rev. Tom Brenberger, C.PP.S., officiating. Burial will be at St. John Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Minster.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marion Community Foundation, Roman and Mildred Hausfeld Scholarship.

Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.