Roman Sr. 'Big Joe, ' Joseph Wencil

Joseph Wencil Roman Sr. “Big Joe,” of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha from mesothelioma cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, by Rev. Denny Juhl. Burial: St. John Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Teahen Funeral Home, with a 7 p.m. vigil service, and Monday from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at the church.

Joe is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara; two sons, Joe (Glori) Jr. of Cedar Rapids and Jim (Laurie Sexton) of Toddville; three daughters, Linda (Gary) Erenberger, Cindy (Dan Ties) Driscoll and Laura (Brun Trapp) Hill, all of Cedar Rapids; eight grandchildren, Matt Ritchart, Nicole (Ryan) Polberg, Paul Erenberger, Shelly Schmidt, Shawn Roman, Whitney Dalziel, Kolin Schmidt and Lily Driscoll; 11 great-grandchildren, Adrianna, Desarae, Alexia, Rylan, Taylem, Sadie, Wesley, Layne, Lucy, Tayva, and Caysen; four brothers, Frank, Louis (Mary Lou) and George (Cecelia), all of Cedar Rapids, and Tony of Iowa City; two sisters, Helen (Roger) Blietz and Agnes Thomas, both of Cedar Rapids; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ann Milota and Mary Berger; a son-in-law, Don Hill; two grandsons, Joey Driscoll and Dillian Hill; and two infant great-grandchildren, Brocken and Vanessa Polberg.

Joe was born Aug. 31, 1933, in Cedar Rapids the son of Frank and Mary (Prohaska) Roman. He graduated from St. Wenceslaus in 1952 and married Barbara Jean Giblin on July 26, 1954, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. He was a Navy veteran and served on the USS Mindora (CVE 120). He was a supervisor at Penick and Ford for 25 years, the ADM Co. in Decatur, Ill., from 1977 to 1979, and the Quaker Oats Co. for 16 years from 1979 to 1995. He then worked at Pierson Flowers from 1999 to 2001 and for the City of Cedar Rapids for six years.

Joe was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 788, and served as an usher at St. Ludmila Catholic Church for many years. He was an avid sports fan and a die-hard Cubs fan.

He enjoyed the grandkids, especially the little ones. Joe loved his two cats, Ringo and Princess.

He dearly loved his family and was a great husband, father, and grandfather.

Special thanks to his hospice caregivers, Kim, Joe, Lisa, Susan, and Jo Jo.

A memorial fund has been established and contributions may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

Published Jan. 6, 2012, in The Gazette