Roman Alfred Koenigsknecht

     Roman Alfred Koenigsknecht, age 92, of Fowler, Michigan, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, Lansing, MI.
     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, MI, on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Fr. John Whitlock presiding. Burial will take place at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery, Fowler, MI. Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI, on Monday, September 23, 2024, from 2-8 P.M. with the family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. A Rosary will be prayed Monday Evening at 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
     Roman was born in Fowler, Michigan on April 21, 1932, the beloved son of Nicholas and Margaret (Thelen) Koenigsknecht. He graduated from American High School, Chicago, IL. Roman married Mary Ann Martin on April 11, 1955, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Westphalia, MI. They celebrated 65 years of marriage together before Mary Ann’s passing on February 26, 2021.
     Roman was drafted into the United States Army in 1952, for the Korean War and did basic training at Fort Benning Georgia. He served in the United States Army Signal Corps (USASC) as a Corporal E-4 where he was stationed in Washington D.C. and worked in the Pentagon.
     Roman received his Associates degree in Electronics via the GI Bill for Korean War veterans. He was initially employed as a Lineman for General Telephone Electric (GTE) in 1957, and promoted in 1967, to St. John’s area Division Service Manager. In 1969, Roman was selected to receive the GTE Community Service Award for his civic and school-related activities. He retired in 1993, after 36 years with GTE.
     Roman was very active in the Mid-Michigan community. He was a founding member of the Clinton County Planning Commission and served as county commission chairman from 1969 to 1982. He was a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Rotary Club. Roman helped organize the Fowler Jaycee chapter and led a highly successful drive to raise funds for polio vaccines which were used for county immunizations. During his life, Roman received numerous community service awards for his civic, religious and community activities, such as membership on the Clinton County Community Chest and the chairmanship of successful fund drives.
     He is survived by his children and their spouses: Carol and Jim Maddox; Diane and Steve Wheeler; Thomas and Sandy Koenigsknecht; Daniel and Janet Koenigsknecht; Denise and Rick Smith; Debra and Chris Stellwag; as well as fourteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Agnes Keilen from Westphalia, MI; and survived by sisters-in-laws and brothers-in-law: Linda and Paul Armbrustmacher; Janice and Alvin Feldpausch; Mildred Droste; Phyllis Thelen; and Genevieve Martin. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Leo Koenigsknecht, Arnold Koenigsknecht, Father William Koenigsknecht, Helen Stump, Martha Koenigsknecht, Louise Burns, Rose Smith, Benno Koenigsknecht, Nicholas Jr. Koenigsknecht, Susann Stump, Frank Koenigsknecht, Mark Koenigsknecht and John Koenigsknecht.
     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Most Holy Trinity Catholic School Trust Fund (www.mhtparish.com/educational-trust-fund.html). Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Goerge Chapel, Fowler, Michigan.