Wilber Martin Romeiser

Wilber Martin Romeiser left this world to be with our Lord on Wednesday, March 8, 2016 at the Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg, Kansas at the age of 99. He was born on December 25, 1916 in a saddle and harness shop in Palco, Kansas to the late Herman and Eleanor (Grecian) Romeiser. He graduated from Stockton High School with the Class of 1937 in Stockton, Kansas and was President of the High School Alumni Association in 1965. He was united in marriage to Lodeska Darnell from Plainville, Kansas on March 9, 1943. Together they raised three children, Lodeska Marlene, Douglas Wilber, and Rebecca Rae. Wilber worked at the Wright Hardware Store on the south side of Main Street in Stockton for 16 years. When Mr. Wright’s son Irwin began working in his father’s store it was Wilber who taught Irwin the Hardware business. In 1931 he proudly began rebuilding his first car, a Ford Model T, with parts he gathered from here and there. Later, in 1945, he built his own building on South Seventh Street in Stockton and started a mechanic shop. He worked on all kinds of machinery, from lawnmowers to combines and everything in between, for approximately 67 years; and was instrumental in the design and development of “Snapper” lawnmowers. Wilber loved to dance, fish, and hunt. He had a wonderful sense of humor and always loved a good joke or story. He was a wise man in many ways and could tell you what was wrong with your mower or vehicle engine just by the sound it was making. Of course if he didn’t have the tool he needed to fix something, he just made it himself. He belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America Fraternal Benefit Society for over 68 years, was a lifetime member of the Masonic Paradise Lodge #290 of Plainville, and was a Past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. Wilber is survived by his three children Lodeska Lovin of Overland Park, Douglas Romeiser of Antioch, TN, and Becky Heckman of Stockton; two grandsons Mikel Lovin and wife Amory, and Kevin Lovin all of Kansas City; and third wife Ione Hill-Romeiser of Logan. He was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Eleanor Romeiser, stepfather Henry Beck, first wife Lodeska in 1975, second wife Alma Rogers of Zurich in 1987, grandson Alan Lovin, and son-in-law William Lovin. Wilber lived his life as a continual example of brotherly love, relief, and truth. He was always caring, always willing to help, and always seeking wisdom and happiness for others as well as himself. The impact of his life will be remembered until we are all reunited, in that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 13, 2016 at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton. Memorials are suggested to Phillips County Retirement Center or Paradise Lodge #290 and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First Street, Stockton, Kansas 67669. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com