John Bernard Rodgers

John Bernard Rodgers of Veneta, OR, and Soldotna, AK, died in Eugene, OR, on May 18, 2013. John was born in Casper, WY, on May 19, 1935 to James Francis Rodgers and Thelma Leona Kinnaman Rodgers. As a child he moved with his family to Lance Creek, WY. He attended elementary schools in Lance Creek and graduated from Manville High School in 1953. He married Patricia Ann Brown on August 8, 1953, in Casper, WY, and they had three children.

John was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, James Patrick Rodgers and Lawrence Francis Rodgers. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Pat Rodgers of Veneta, OR, and Soldotna, AK; his three children, Vickie Rodgers Cisewski of Veneta, OR; Mike Rodgers of Portland, OR; and Mark Rodgers of Veneta, OR; one grandson Joshua Cisewski of Scotts Mills, OR; and one sister Lorraine Rodgers Quinn of The Villages, FL.

John worked for Marathon Oil Company for 36 years, beginning his service in Sidney, NE, and Lance Creek, WY. He transferred to Alaska in 1968 and rose to supervisory positions with the company. From Anchorage he worked on the offshore oil platform Dolly Varden in the Cook Inlet, and in 1974 he transferred to the onshore facility in Kenai, AK. He retired from the company in 1990.

For the first years of their retirement, John and his wife spent winters in Arizona and summers at their home in Soldotna, AK. To be near their children, John and Pat bought a home in Veneta, OR, in 2006. They continued to spend summers at their property in Soldotna, AK.

From an early age John enjoyed hunting and fishing in Wyoming. He continued to be an avid fisherman throughout his life and pulled many a salmon from his beloved Kenai River in Alaska. In his youth he participated in rodeo as a bronc rider, and he remained a dedicated rodeo fan throughout his life. He enjoyed wood working and meticulously created numerous beautiful wood projects. John was a lifetime member of the Elks Club.

Services will be held at 11:00AM on June 1, 2013, at Champion Ferries Funeral Home, 244 S. Brooks St., Sheridan, WY, followed by burial in the Elks Memorial Cemetery in Sheridan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Elks Memorial Cemetery.

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