David E. Roesler, 82, passed away at home on May 26, 2023 following a long illness. He was born in Lead, SD on January 20, 1941 to Daniel P. and Naomi Roesler. The family lived in Deadwood, SD where Dave spent his youth, graduating from Deadwood High School in 1959. After high school he was appointed to the US Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1964. Dave began his Army career upon graduation as a 2nd Lieutenant, and retired 29 years later from his last duty station in Huntsville, AL holding the rank of Colonel.

Following his military career, Dave made his permanent home in Huntsville, and began working at Teledyne Brown Engineering/Teledyne Solutions until his retirement from there in 2006. Growing up, Dave Roesler was a good student, played high school football and basketball, and ran track. He played in the band and sang in the glee club, and served on the student council. For most of his boyhood he worked summers at the local golf courses alongside his grounds superintendent father. He established himself as a pretty good junior golfer during this time.

While in the military, his assignments took him to duty stations in Germany, Georgia, Texas, Viet Nam, Fort Knox, West Point, Virginia, Hawaii, Florida, Colorado, and finally to Alabama. Dave began as an armored cavalry officer, and in the years following his combat experiences in Viet Nam he was assigned to administrative leadership positions. Later in his career Dave was responsible for financial support and oversight at his last several duty stations, and wound things up as Director of Finance, US Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal. The Colonel was a decorated US Army officer. Awards include the Silver Star; Defense Superior Service, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and numerous other medals and citations. During his time in the military Dave developed a competitive golf game. He enjoyed a lot of low-handicap rounds with his friends as they played the courses in Huntsville and the surrounding area, both before and after his retirement. He found his true calling however after joining Southside Baptist Church. Dave became involved in the youth ministry there, and got a new lease on life –spiritually as well as physically. Involvement with the church's youth had energized his servant's heart, and he loved teaching and working with those young men and women more than anything. Dave loved accompanying "his kids" on their retreats, and helped to coordinate and lead them on mission trips to repair storm damaged homes in the surrounding states. At Southside and elsewhere, he was a humble Christian servant who many knew as their treasured friend and mentor.

In the mid-2000's, a dormant bug came back to life and Dave decided to build a railroad in his backyard. His vision was to model the Deadwood Central Railroad from circa 1900, and he set about the task in much the same way a full-size railroad is built – with plans, surveys, earthmoving, excavations, breaking, moving and cutting through rock, constructing roadbeds, sidings, and towns. The project took all the skills and knowledge he had developed during his years of tinkering and woodworking, and what he didn't know, he learned. Constructing the DCRR gave him great satisfaction, and his unique Garden-scale layout was regarded by those in the hobby as one of the most impressive ones around. In addition, Dave
gained a whole new collection of friends and associates throughout the hobby, and he was always eager to help them with their own projects. He was proud to tell anyone who would listen that he loved to play with trains!

David Roesler is survived by his wife Dianne of 22 years, his son Michael Roesler (Christina) and Michael's mother Lori Pavlo; daughters Sharon Murphy (John), Miranda Bryant, and Lynda Dean (Jimmy); by his sister Barbara Fierro Wordell and brother Mike Roesler (Jody). Beloved grandchildren include Zackary and Sydney Murphy, Erin and Meghan Barker, Victoria and Jesslyn Dean, Angelina and Alanna Roesler, along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, his parents, his brother Dan Roesler, and Dan's wife Sue.

Memorial services for Dave Roesler will be held at 4pm Wednesday May 31 st, 2023 at Berryhill Funeral Home, 2305 North Memorial Parkway, Huntsville Al 35810. Visitation will precede the service from 2pm to 4pm. Graveside rites with Military Honors are scheduled for 1pm Thursday June 1
st, 2023 at Forestlawn Gardens, 730 Golden Springs Road, Anniston AL 36207. This date and time is awaiting confirmation by the Army, and could possibly change.

The family has not designated a memorial for David... please consider offering time and support to the youth ministry at your local church.