Local businessman George Nicholas Roerig, 90, of Montpelier, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in his home. He was born on Feb. 22, 1930, in Browns Valley, Minnesota, to Nicholas and Mary (Piechowski) Roerig. On Dec. 27, 1952, he married Agnes F. Cuffe in New Effington, South Dakota, and she preceded him in death on April 22, 2008.
George worked the family farm in Browns Valley, Minnesota, and then rented his own farmland. He then became an iron worker and worked on power plants and the Saint Lawrence Seaway. George took what he thought would be a temporary job as a Fuller Brush man and discovered that his love of people translated into him being a natural-born salesman.
George quickly moved from salesman to field and district manager for the company. Since Fuller Brush salesmen were some of the only formally trained salesmen at that time, George had many other opportunities and finally accepted an offer by the Wynona Monument Company. Shortly thereafter he was lured by an offer from Crown Hill Memorials, and George moved his family from his beloved Minnesota to Lisbon, Ohio.
After a short stint at Crown Hill, George purchased the Fackler Monument Company in Montpelier, Ohio, in 1966. Montpelier would become George, Agnes and their eight children’s “forever” home.
George grew the small local business to be the largest manufacturer and retailer of monuments in the tri-state area. In 1996 George passed the torch to his son, Dan, and daughter-in-law, Andrea. Fackler Monument continues as a family-owned business to this day.
George never actually retired. He continued to sell monuments into his 80s. He also never lost his love of the farm and “hobby farmed,” growing crops, raising hay, and steers, pigs and chickens to feed his large family. He also loved buying, raising and selling horses. At one point, he had as many as 36 horses and ponies on his little farm.
George is survived by Jan (Charlette Crissman) Roerig of Lakeview, Ohio, Jerry (Kim) Roerig of Dayton, Ohio, Judy (Mike) Barron of Angola, Indiana, Paul (Cynthia) Roerig of Montpelier, Midge Blake, Joseph Blake of Montpelier and Michelle Yosick, Bill Yosick of Omaha, Nebraska; 18 devoted grandchildren; 23 adoring great-grandchildren; three sisters, Kathryn Saravia of California, Rita Hannasch of South Dakota and Germaine Tobeck of Minnesota; and brother-in-law, Frank (Josie) Cuffe of Virginia.
When asked about the secret to living a longer and better life, George replied, “That’s easy. My faith and my church.” He passed these values on to his family, who were everything to him. He was born into a large family and felt blessed to marry into one. He said, “They are my hands, my feet and my eyes.”
He was loved and admired by over 200 nieces and nephews, many who affectionately refer to him as the Candy Man for his signature move of tossing buckets of candy to the little ones at family gatherings.
He will be remembered for his smile, his sense of humor, but most of all, for that infectious, contagious laugh. He laughed until the very end.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Agnes Roerig; one daughter, Mary Francis; two sons, Nicholas and Daniel; daughter-in-law, Andrea Roerig; and four sisters, Elaine Kenney, Phyllis Schmitz, Theresa Ruiz and Maryann Kruger.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Montpelier. A funeral mass will take place immediately following calling hours at 1 p.m. at the church with Father Andrew Wellman to officiate. George will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier. Those wishing to attend services are required to wear a mask and abide by the recommended social distancing guidelines.
Memorials may be made to Helping Hands Food Pantry or CHP Hospice. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com.