Karl Lawrence Roesch Jr.

Karl L. Roesch, Jr., 90, passed away Saturday November 10, 2012, at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on the 200 anniversary of his beloved United States Marine Corps. Visitation will be held 5:00-7:00 PM, Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at Culley's MeadowWood, 1737 Riggins Rd, Tallahassee. Graveside funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday at Oakland Cemetery, 320 W. Brevard Street, Tallahassee.

Karl was born in Bradenton, Florida, and moved to Tallahassee in 1929. He remembered Tallahassee, during that time, as having very little automobile traffic and everyone rode mules and wagons to get around. He went to high school at Florida High and later transferred to Leon High to play football but found out he was ineligible to play for the first semester due to his transfer status. After high school he went to college on a football scholarship at Furman College in Greenville, S.C.

In 1942 he received his draft notice and was given two weeks to join the Army reserve or the ROTC. They didn't have ROTC at Furman so he decided to join the United States Marine Corps. He came out of boot camp at Paris Island as a Private First Class and went to Officer's Candidate School where he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. After finishing his training in 1944 he was sent to the Pacific Theater to be with the 6th Marine Corp Division and saw action on Guadalcanal, Okinawa and Guam. After VJ Day he was sent to Tientsin, China to serve as the "Signal Assistant" for General Wharton, Chief of Staff, and Commanding General Keller Rockey.

In the mid 1950's he moved back to Tallahassee to work with his dad. On March 28, 1958 he married his wife of 54 years, Frances Proctor. The two of them shared a wonderful life with friends and family for the next half century building a business and sharing time between Tallahassee and St. Teresa Beach. During those years Karl served as Springtime Tallahassee's Andrew Jackson and as a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Northside Rotary Club, the Cotillion Club of Tallahassee, the Colonel's Club of Tallahassee and the Marine Corp Reserve. His wife Frances preceded him in death earlier this year. Also preceding him was a daughter Sally Helen Roesch, a brother Robert W. Roesch, his father Karl L. Roesch, Sr. and his mother Katherine Isabelle Davis Roesch.

He is survived by step-son, Thomas Michael Hines; a brother-in-law, W. Theo Proctor, Jr. and wife Martha Anne Proctor; nephew, W. Theo Proctor III and wife Velma; and their two daughters, Megan and Emily.

Karl's greatest loves were his family, his country and the U.S. Marines.

Memorial contributions may be made to the, Proctor Endowment for Children with Diabetes, c/o Tallahassee Memorial Health Care Foundation; Trinity United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice .