Roger C. Zeihen's Obituary
Roger Cyril Zeihen, age 93, of Waupaca, WI, passed away peacefully in the presence of his children on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Roger and his twin sister, Ramona (Gallo), were born on June 8, 1932, to Nicholas and Irene (Wagner) Zeihen on their parents’ farm in Brighton, WI, where they lived with their sister Beatrice. He graduated from Burlington High School, after serving as a Seaman Recruit with the U.S. Naval Reserves. Roger then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, with whom he proudly served in Guam and Korea during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1954.
Roger then met his future bride, Romayne Epping, and her wonderful parents, Sylvester and Leona Epping, and siblings, who quickly became his second family. They married on July 21, 1956. Roger initially provided for his family as an appliance repair person at Bigelow’s in Burlington, WI, then Triangle Appliance in Kenosha, WI. Roger joined the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department in January 1964, where he proudly served as a deputy, detective, and Captain of Operations. While with the Department, Roger graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1977. He retired in 1988, which enabled Roger to passionately engage in his hobbies of hunting, fishing, card playing and golf; and to travel the world with Romayne until she preceded him in death on September 18, 2022.
Roger and Romayne are survived by their four loving children: Teri (Bob) Schnuck, of Cedarburg; Mike (Angela) Zeihen, of Reedsburg; Michelle (David) Riley, of Kenosha; and Douglas (Suzi) Zeihen, of Dousman; nine grandchildren: Stefanie (Hussain) Ali, Jennifer (Scott) LeNoble, Zachary (Kelly) Zeihen, Christie (Samora) Johnson, Julianne (Andrew) Petrasko, Jacob (Laura) Riley, Brianna (Riley) Hass, Matthew Zeihen and Jonathan Zeihen; three step-grandchildren: Charles (Perla) Pellicane, Danielle (Jeff) Wood, and Juliet (Mark) Haas; 23 great-grandchildren; twin-sister, Ramona Gallo; and in-law siblings: Betty Epping, Jean Epping, Edward Roberts, Judy Schmidt and Barb and Mike Wisnefski; and also by numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Roger was preceded in death by Romayne, his and Romayne’s parents, step-grandson Ryan Pellicane, his and Romayne’s siblings and spouses: Beatrice (Zeihen) & William David, Eleanor (Epping) & Gene Robers, Marge (Epping) & Elmer Ketterhagen, Esther (Epping) & Richard Schmidt, Charles & Sally Epping, Claude Epping, Norman Epping, Lillian (Epping) Roberts, Dale & Gladys Epping, and in-laws: David Gallo and Leroy Schmidt; as well as Roger’s foster-brother John Ketterhagen and his wife Gwen.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Roger will be on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, N2845 Shadow Road, Waupaca, WI. Father Rommel Dacoco and Deacon JimTrzinski will preside. Visitation will precede the Mass, from 9:30 to 10:50 AM.
Roger gratefully participated in an Honor Flight out of Wausau, WI. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Never Forgotten Honor Flight at 225780 Rib Mountain Drive, Suite 234, Wausau, WI 54401, or to St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church or any Hospice organization.
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