2 Louisville-native World War II veterans turn 100 this month, family requesting birthday cards

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two local World War II veterans are turning 100 at the end of this month.

Nowadays, life moves at a slower pace for Arthur Wissing.

"(I have) 15 grandkids and 35 great grandkids," Wissing said.

Wissing was born and raised in Louisville's Germantown Neighborhood on Aug. 23, 1924.

"I'm just thankful for my life and for my friends," Wissing said.

The St. X graduate joined the Army in 1942. He didn't share many details about his service, but he did talk about how close he got with his war buddies.

"There's 10 people on the arm, on a bomber crew, and that's what I was, a nose gunner on the bomber crew. And we kept in touch," Wissing said. "When we finished the flight and came back to the base, the flight lasted about eight to 10 hours, we always had donuts and coffee. The Red Cross would have donuts and coffee bars. But other than that, I felt for the ground troops who had to lay in a foxhole, didn't have a hot meal, didn't have a bed to sleep in. That's who I felt the war was all about."

Thirty-eight missions later, he made it home, where he started a meat market grocery and married his longtime, childhood sweetheart.

"I wasn't sweet on her or anything until I came home from the service," Wissing said.

Wissing's neighborhood knows him as the man who annually places American flags in everyone's yard.

But, Wissing isn't the only Louisville-born WWII veteran to turn 100 years old this month.

Maureen Roppel's father, Virgil Roppel, was also born in Aug. 28, 1924. He was raised in St. Matthews and attended Anchorage Public School.

"But he didn't finish at the time, because he joined the Navy when he was 17," Maureen Roppel said.

Roppel joined the United States Navy and served on the USS Marcus Island aircraft carrier as a crew chief.

"He talked about the Navy all the time when we were kids. So we're very, very proud of him," Maureen Roppel said.

After the war, he got married, moved to Jeffersontown, and opened Roppel Radiator, now known as Roppel Industries, on Baxter Avenue with his brother.

"They started out little bitty place, and he would go around the city to the dealers and the different shops and drum up the business," Maureen Roppel said. "People now to this day that work for him just go on and on about what a great boss he was, how fun he was to work for."

He had a stroke several years back, which limits his mobility and speech, but he doesn't take any medication. Now, he enjoys his days, sipping on Diet Coke at the American Legion Post 244.

"It's an absolute amazing honor that they do as much as they do for him," Maureen Roppel said.

Together, both of them sit with 200 years worth of memories waiting for people to join them and celebrate their birthdays.

"I won't have enough words to express how thankful I am for everything that's been given to me, good friends, good family. I'm just thankful for all of that. I just hope I have enough words to express it," Wissing said.

The American Legion Post 244 printed a birthday banner and a plaque for Roppel. His family also got him a one-of-a-kind, dedication bench.

If you'd like to mail a birthday card to Arthur Wissing, please send it to our newsroom by August 23:

Arthur Wissing (WWII Veteran)

WDRB Media
624 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Louisville, Ky. 40203

If you'd like to mail a birthday card to Virgil Roppel, please send it to the American Legion Post 244 of Jeffersontown by August 23:

Virgil Roppel

c/o American Legion Post 244
3408 College Drive
Jeffersontown, KY 40299

Roppel will be in the Grand Marshall in this year's Jeffersontown Gas Light Festival Parade. August 28 will also be "Virgil Roppel Day" in Jeffersontown to celebrate his birthday.

The parade is on September 12, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. For more information, click here.

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