Major Ronaldl. Rousser

Major Ronald L. Rousser, 41, of Topeka, passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, KS. He was born on September 8, 1964 in Salina, the son of Robert and Linda Johnson Rousser. He graduated from Manhattan High School. He graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor Degree in Architectural Engineering. He then obtained a Masters Degree in Computer Resources Information Management from Webster's University. He entered the US Army and served in Germany for two years. He then served in the 410th Medical Evacuation Hospital in Topeka. He later was selected for Army Officer Candidate School for the Kansas Army National Guard and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Ron later served as a Battalion Signal Officer and Battery Commander 1/127th FA, Ottawa, KS. Ron was awarded a Saber in recognition of his outstanding achievement as a Battery Commander. He also served as a Brigade Signal Officer 35th Divarty, Hutchinson, KS and currently serving as the Brigade Signal Officer for the 635th Regional Support Group in Hutchinson, KS which is being deployed to Kuwait City, Kuwait. Ron is a graduate of Command General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. He recently had been selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in the Kansas Army National Guard. Ron had received various awards to include the Overseas Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Ron had also received the Order of St. Barbara while at the 1/127th FA Bn, Ottawa, KS. Previous civilian employment outside the military included Hoss and Brown Engineering in Topeka. Ron worked for the State of Kansas as an Architectural Engineer. Ron was selected by the director of facilities engineering, Kansas Army National Guard as a project manager. Ron graduated from the National Guard Bureau Contract Managers Course. Ron was then selected to serve on the Kansas Joint Facilities Team and served on the advisory council for the Kansas State Department of Facilities Engineering. Ron was a member of the Design Builders Institute of America. Ron was a member of the United States Signal Officer Association, United States Field Artillery Officer Association, the Kansas National Guard Association, and the Kansas State Alumni Association. He married Christina Ann Lester on September 17, 1994 in Kansas City, KS. She survives. Other survivors include one daughter, Kaitlyn Marie Rousser, his parents, Robert and Linda Rousser of Manhattan, his grandmother, Doris Johnson of Manhattan, three brothers, Donald Rousser of Sullivan, Ill, Robert Rousser of Woodland WA, and Eric Scott Schroeder of Scotland, TX, and one sister, Lessa Michelle Schroeder-Nelson of Scotland, TX. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Burial will follow in Penwell Gabel's Memorial Park Cemetery. A reception will be held following at the Armed Forces Reserve Center located at 6700 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Building No. 688 (Gary Ormsby Drive, Forbes Field). Ron was the project manager for the successful construction of this multi-million dollar facility which is representative of his legacy. Ronald will lie in state after 1:00 p.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel where the family will receive friends from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be given to Kaitlyn Rousser Educational Fund c/o Capital Federal Savings, 3540 N.W. 46th St., Topeka, KS 66618. A special message may be given to the family online at www.PenwellGabel.com.