Arlo "Art" L. Roswell Obituary (1923 - 2016)

Arlo “Art” Leroy Roswell passed from his earthly home on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 to join his beloved wife Dolly in heaven. He missed his 93rd birthday by one day. Arlo Leroy Roswell was born on October 12, 1923 to Edmund Leon Roswell and Emma Amelia Scherf Roswell in Tainter Township, Dunn County, Wisconsin. Art grew up on a dairy farm with his five siblings, Mildred, Ernest, Linnie, Leonard and Victor. At the age of 19 Art enlisted in the army air corps as a member of the 91st Bombardment Group, which was activated on April 15, 1942. After several months of training he graduated as a sergeant in the 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group, otherwise known as “The Ragged Irregulars.” Art was a flight engineer and top turret gunner on his 3rd mission aboard the B-17 Flying Fortress “Blonde Bomber” when it was shot down on January 11, 1944 over Oschersleben, Germany. When his parachute landed on the ground in Germany, Belgium was the closest place for him to try to walk to not get caught by the Nazis. He was on the loose for 5 days. He walked to a farm because he was hungry. They fed him bread and then a soldier from the German air force came and took Art away. He was a prisoner of war (POW) for 17 months, until the Germans surrendered and the war was over. After the war, Art worked for 16 years driving a gas truck for the Wheeler Oil Company. He then went to work for the Dunn County Highway Department, retiring in 1985. Art loved deer hunting up north, as well as squirrel hunting in the woods on his little hobby farm. He raised beef and pigs while working his other jobs. Art was a devoted husband to his wife Viola “Dolly” Owen, and a loving father to his three girls, Linda, Mary and Shirley. Art and Dolly were active members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wheeler for many years. Following his retirement, Art and Dolly traveled together to many places in the United States as well as to Germany when their daughter Shirley’s husband was stationed there. Arlo Roswell is survived by his children Linda Barta of Cameron, Mary Bergeson of Menomonie and Shirley Nelson of California and his grandchildren Todd (Jayne) Barta, Kristi (Josh) Dezek, Heather (Shaun) Olson, Jessica (Adam Bjork) Bergeson, Jodi Windsor and Josh Windsor. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dolly, siblings Mildred (Samuel) Muralt, Earnest (Thelma) Roswell, Linnie “Babe” (Lyle) Misselt, Leonard and Victor Roswell, son-in-law Robert Barta. Art’s greatest achievement and joy in life was taking care of his family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie with Pastor Kristine Stedje officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Falls Cemetery, Township of Red Cedar, Dunn County with military honors by the Menomonie Veterans Honor Guard. There will be visitation one hour prior to the service.