Roman Matthew Ole Christel

DOB 03/08/1910 - DOD 04/01/2011

Roman Christel of Brothertown died Friday morning April 1, 2011, just three weeks after celebrating his 101st birthday, at Century Ridge Assisted Living facility in Chilton.

Roman "Ole" Christel was born in Valders, Wisconsin on March 8, 1910. He was the fourth of twelve children born to Isidor H. and Ida (Jaeger) Christel.

His parents operated a general store in Valders, and in 1922 they opened Christel's Store in Brillion, where the family lived above the store. As a youngster, Roman helped at the store and delivered groceries with a horse and buggy.

On October 20, 1928 he married Erna Becker in Brillion. After seventy-nine years of marriage, she preceded him in death on November 18, 2007. Ole and Erna lived in Brillion, Kiel and Sheboygan during their married years, retiring to their home of Lake Winnebago in 1967.

Roman was a truck driver for Chair City Motor Express in Sheboygan for almost 30 years. He was a proud member of the Teamsters Union Local 56, receiving many safe driving awards over the years.

He is survived by three sons, Donald "Pat" (Betty) Christel of Brussels, WI, Clifford Christel of Las Vegas, NV, and Bruce (Joye) Christel of Mesa, AZ, and one daughter, Joelle (Thomas) Myers of New Holstein, WI. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, seven-step great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren and one step-great-great grandchild. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his daughter-in-law Caroline Christel, two sisters and brothers-in-law Erma (Robert) Biederwolf and Edna "Toot" (Norman) Orth, nine brothers and six sisters-in-law Victor (Alverta) Christel, Arno (Lorraine) Christel, Lawrence "Pete" (Dorothy) Christel, Eugene "Shipe" (Ruth) Christel, John (Dorothy) Christel, Raymond "Nipper" (Lucy) Christel, Jerome Christel, James Christel and Omer "Butch" Christel. Also preceding him in death were Erna's brother and sister-in-law Eldred (Bernice) Becker, and sisters and brothers-in-law Vila (Art) Zimmermann and Gertrude (Robert) Christiaansen.

Private family services were held at the Meiselwitz-Vollstedt Funeral Home in Kiel on Thursday, April 7, 2011. He was buried at Potter Cemetery. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date.

The family would like to thank Marge, Kim and the wonderful staff at Century Ridge Assisted Living for the warm and caring support they provided Dad during his stay. Special thanks are extended to Calumet County Hospice nurse, Karen Doerr and the dedicated hospice team for their attention, encouragement and comforting ways.