Branch Roland Moeling COL, US Army (Ret)

He was born February 28, 1937 in Chicago, IL and was reared in Lake Charles, LA. His parents were Walter Goos Moeling, Jr and Lorena Moses Moeling both of Lake Charles, LA.

He married Susan Chmelik of Northbrook, IL in 1961. They had three children: Marjorie, Linda and Kathleen. Linda married John Lewis of Greensboro, NC (who served in the Marine Corps) and they had two children Patrick and Mary. Kathleen married Michael Porturica of Martinsburg, WV (who served in the Air Force) and they had two children Hannah and Joseph. Kathleen died of cancer in 2003 and Sue died of cancer in 2007. Branch married Joanne McAuliff in 2009. Joanne had a daughter Kelly, who married Dan Evans of Manassas, VA and they had two children Natalia and Quinn. Branch lived many years in Lake Bluff, IL and Woodbridge, VA.

Branch graduated from Northwestern Univ in Evanston, IL and served 32 years in the Army. He served 13 years in Special Forces, 13 years as a military Comptroller and four years as an Inspector General, enlisting as a Recruit and retiring as a Colonel. He was trained at Jungle School in Panama, Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Jumpmaster School at Ft. Bragg, Northern Warfare Training summer and winter courses at Ft. Greeley, AK and the Army Comptroller School at Ft. Ben Harrison. He graduated from the Army's Command and General Staff College and received the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal. He qualified as a Master Parachutist and Special Forces Officer.

After retiring from the Army he served in Department of Veteran's Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, Special Actions Branch and Freedom of Information Section. He then served as a 911 Call Taker and in the Prince William county VA Section 8 Housing Office. While living in Prince William county Virginia he completed Community Leadership Institute; Citizen's Police Academy and Alumni Assn, Citizens Fire and EMS Academy and Alumni Assn, and was a Red Cross Volunteer. He spent three weeks deployed to Florida for 2004 hurricanes. Upon return to Virginia, he became a Ham radio operator (KI4KEX) and served in the Amature Radio Emergency Services (ARES).

Branch and Joanne moved to Clearwater Beach, Fl in 2012. While there he was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Largo, FL, a 4th degree Knight of Columbus, Special Forces Assn Chapter 40 Dunedin, FL, The Military Order of the World Wars, Military Officer Assn of America, Prince William county ARES, Clearwater Sail and Power Squadron part of the United States Power Squadron, the Clearwater Yacht Club and the Florida Suncoast MG Car Club.

A visitation will occur at Serenity Funeral Home, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 33774 from 4-7 PM on Wednesday August 17th, 2022. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1507 Trotter Road, Largo, FL 33770 on Thursday August 18th, 2022 at 11 AM.

Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Jude Research Hospital or Suncoast Hospice Mid Pinellas Center.