In Memory Of
Willis Rodgers
1920
2012
Willis Rodgers
August 8, 1920 — February 17, 2012
Willis A. "Bill" Rodgers was taken up to heaven to be with our Heavenly Father February 17, 2012. He was born August 8, 1920 to Albert and Essie Rodgers in Fort Robinson, NE near Crawford.
He came to Casper with his family in 1924 where he attended Casper schools. He started working for Civilian Conservation Corp and later as a gandy dancer for the railroad to repair the tracks running north of Casper.
In March 1942 he joined the USMC and fought in the Pacific Theater on several islands including the intense fighting on the islands of Guam and Iwo Jima. He was honorably discharged in March of 1946.
He returned to Casper and started working for the refinery, Standard Oil of IN, in 1947, joined the Atomic Oil and Chemical Workers Union and retired in 1978.
He met the love of his life, Lucille and married June 7, 1949. Bill and Lucille raised four children in Casper.
In 1961, going to night school, he received his real estate license and worked part time selling ranches. Later, after retiring from the refinery, he sold houses in Casper for different real-estate companies until 1989.
Bill enjoyed traveling with Lucille after their children were grown, taking them both around the world and seeing family around the country. Their travels included Hawaii, most of Europe, British Isles, twice to Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the old USSR. In the later years they split their time between Alaska, fishing in the summers and Wyoming for hunting and the holidays with family. They would "snow bird" south to Nevada and California in January returning to Casper for springtime. He enjoyed fishing in Alaska during the summer months for 27 years. Bill and Lucille were fond of picking the various berries found along the route to and from Alaska for jelly making.
Bill is survived by his four children, Leonard and wife Shirley of Richland, WA. Daniel, Valerie and husband Michael, Thomas and wife Barbara all of Casper. There are also eight granddaughters, two grandsons and ten great-grandchildren with one more on the way. He is survived by his sister, Annabelle Rodgers of San Bernardino, CA.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille, his parents, his brothers Robert and Amel and sister Agnes.
Services for Bill will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 24, 2012 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Father Lucas officiating. A vigil service will be held at 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Newcomer Funeral Home.
Donations may be made to a Veteran's Organization of the donor's choice.
He came to Casper with his family in 1924 where he attended Casper schools. He started working for Civilian Conservation Corp and later as a gandy dancer for the railroad to repair the tracks running north of Casper.
In March 1942 he joined the USMC and fought in the Pacific Theater on several islands including the intense fighting on the islands of Guam and Iwo Jima. He was honorably discharged in March of 1946.
He returned to Casper and started working for the refinery, Standard Oil of IN, in 1947, joined the Atomic Oil and Chemical Workers Union and retired in 1978.
He met the love of his life, Lucille and married June 7, 1949. Bill and Lucille raised four children in Casper.
In 1961, going to night school, he received his real estate license and worked part time selling ranches. Later, after retiring from the refinery, he sold houses in Casper for different real-estate companies until 1989.
Bill enjoyed traveling with Lucille after their children were grown, taking them both around the world and seeing family around the country. Their travels included Hawaii, most of Europe, British Isles, twice to Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the old USSR. In the later years they split their time between Alaska, fishing in the summers and Wyoming for hunting and the holidays with family. They would "snow bird" south to Nevada and California in January returning to Casper for springtime. He enjoyed fishing in Alaska during the summer months for 27 years. Bill and Lucille were fond of picking the various berries found along the route to and from Alaska for jelly making.
Bill is survived by his four children, Leonard and wife Shirley of Richland, WA. Daniel, Valerie and husband Michael, Thomas and wife Barbara all of Casper. There are also eight granddaughters, two grandsons and ten great-grandchildren with one more on the way. He is survived by his sister, Annabelle Rodgers of San Bernardino, CA.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille, his parents, his brothers Robert and Amel and sister Agnes.
Services for Bill will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 24, 2012 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Father Lucas officiating. A vigil service will be held at 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Newcomer Funeral Home.
Donations may be made to a Veteran's Organization of the donor's choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Willis Rodgers, please visit our flower store.
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