Over 100 people gathered to honor the life of Judge John Roemer

MAUSTON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- More than 100 people gathered in Mauston last night, on June 11, at a community vigil to honor the life of the late Judge John Roemer.

He was killed in a targeted attack by a man Roemer had sentenced to prison in 2005.

Family, friends and loved ones of Roemer gathered outside the courthouse where he used to work in downtown Mauston in a candlelight vigil.

People close to Roemer remembered him as an approachable man with a great sense of humor and kindness.

Judge Roemer's Pastor spoke at the event and remembered his close friend.

"He was very encouraging, genuinely humble," said Pastor Chip Wilke of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mauston. "He had a knack for saying the right words to people at exactly the right time. I've heard story after story, especially this last week, from people at church, where he came up to them in their moment of need and said exactly the words that they needed to hear."

Wilke says almost everyone in town knew Roemer and loved him.

He also remembered how the judge would frequently listen to loud music in his law office.