Mike was born September 14, 1934 in the Township of Greenwood to Mike & Genevieve (Chojnacki) Roiger. He passed away at his home in Whittlesey under the loving care of his family and Hope Hospice on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. He married Donna C. Lamberty on June 22, 1957 at OLPH Catholic Church in Whittlesey and they resided there ever since.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by children – Mike O., Matt (Sandy), Dave (Sharon), Laura (Jeff) Schmeiser, Lucy & Dan (Patty). Also, 12 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren & 1 great great grandchild. Brothers - Jerry (Edie) & Butch (Cookie) and Sisters - Mary Lamberty, Ann (Jerry) Judnic & Rosemary Heier, Brothers-in-law – Dan McCluskey & Romie (Lois) Lamberty.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Joan McCluskey and in-laws – Bob Heier, Bob Lamberty, Roy & Midge Lamberty.
He attended Rib River Elementary School, town of Greenwood and graduated from Rib Lake High School in 1952. He joined the US Army and served from January of 1953 until December of 1955, spending 13 months in France. After his service he worked in road construction and logging until 1963 when he joined the Medford Post Office as a clerk/carrier. He was a rural mail carrier from April of 1973 until his retirement in December of 1990.
In 1991, he received the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. He was an active member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Whittlesey where he served on the parish council and was president of the cemetery committee. He was the chairman of the finance committee when the new church was built in 1967.
A member of the Chelsea Conservation Club, he served as president and secretary and was a hunter safety instructor for 30+ years since 1967. He served on the Medford school board for 16 years, served as a Town of Chelsea supervisor for 6 years, was a past Taylor County board supevisor and a current member of the Taylor County Forestry Parks & Recreation Committee.
He was a member of the Medford VFW Club, We Whittlesey Whizzer Snowmobile Club, past president of the Taylor County Snowmobile Council and the Taylor County director for the AWSC. He was a snowmobile safety instructor for 30+ years starting in 1972 and was a member of the Medford – Whittlesey Snowmobile Derby committee. Races were held in Whittlesey from 1969 through 1975.
Mike was a charter member of the Whittlesey Lions Club earning the Melvin Jones fellowship award. He has been the business manager for Whittlesey Baseball since the mid 1960’s and managed the team from 1961 through 1979. He also organized & scheduled games for area little league since the mid 1960’s. Also, he was secretary of the Wisconsin Baseball Association for 33 years and treasurer for 10 years earning the WBA lifetime achievement award. Mike was inducted into the Central Wisconsin Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to the family for a future designation.
For online condolences, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com.
