Roy Rogers

ROY K. ROGERSage 61, of Big Rock, IL, passed away Wednesday evening, October 5, 2005 at Rush Presbyterian St.Luke Hospital, Chicago after a short but valiant battle with cancer. Roy was surrounded by his loving family when God took his hand and led him home. BORN: He was born, October 15, 1943 in Aurora, IL the son of Kenneth S. and Lois K. (Krahn) Rogers. EARLY YEARS /EDUCATION / MILITARY He grew up in Oswego and graduated from Oswego High School with the class of 1961. Soon after graduation, Roy enlisted in the Army and served in the Military Police at several bases both here and abroad.OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY If you asked Roy what he did for a living he would simply say, "I’m a wrench" or I do "Gorilla work"- and then grin. Indeed, for thirty-five years he was an auto mechanic and so skilled at his craft that his wrenches seemed a virtual extension of himself. He worked at Zimmerman Ford/Pontiac, Fox Valley Ford, and Fair Oaks Ford from which he retired just days before his death. His trade mark was his unswerving honesty in all things, in fact he was often described as "honest to a fault". His favorite slogan was "First On Race Day", the acronym translation of F.O.R.D.! Race Day for Roy was often at the Oswego Drag Strip when he was young but the competitive edge didn’t end there. Roy took up the sport of ATV riding shortly after he turned 60, showing that his love of speed and power would likely never endMARRIAGE:More than just a slogan, FORD devotion went hand-in-hand with everything in Roy’s life, including matrimony. Before he married Sharon Lay on June 15, 1973 she had to get rid of the "brand X" she was driving and get a Ford. With Roy it was, "love me, love my FORD" ! Roy and Sharon – and their new FORD settled in the Sugar Grove / Big Rock area where they lived all of their lives together. More than a mechanic, Roy was artistic as well, and the creator of a number of awe inspiring custom paint jobs. A jack-of-all-trades, Roy could build, fix or repair almost anything. The only problem was his procrastination. Knowing he could do anything if he just had the time, meant putting things off until he did! If only his family had a dollar for every time they heard "when I get around to it."MEMBERSHIPS Still, Roy found time in the 1980’s to be part of the Kane County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol, an experience he genuinely enjoyed. He was also a member of the Turner Club, the ATV Association. When it came to ATV four-wheeling, Roy rode his with a passion. . He was quite proud of his Suzuki Z400 sport quad and the fact that all of the other "old guys" were riding utility quads and he was keeping up with the youngsters. When it came to ATV racing and trail riding this one-time-dragster had only two speeds, "Fast" and "Stop". Everything else in life was "just a mosey". LIFE NOTES On that quiet side, Roy loved to fish. It didn’t matter when or where. Big fish, little fish or no fish at all, Roy loved the sport and perhaps the quiet peace it brought to a life lived with such intensity. His love for life was no where more evident than the look in his eyes when he beheld his grandchildren. They could turn his stubborn German heart into a marshmallow in just a moment. Friday night dinners came like clock work and then there was always time for fun. SURVIVORS Roy is survived by his wife, Sharon and his parents, Jim "Red" and Lois Rogers, all of Big Rock, IL, Three Children and their families:Roy Rogers Jr. of Fox Lake, IL and his son, Nicholas Todd;Lori Schultz of Sugar Grove, ILKenneth (Catherine) Rogers and their two sons, Jacob and Kyle, also of Sugar Grove; Two siblings:Melody (Roby) Collins of Aurora, IL andLynda Rogers of Hinckley, ILAs well as many nieces and nephews; His mother-in-law, Loree Lay of Big Rock, ILAnd one sister-in-law, Pat Ivarra of Aurora, IL, Three very special aunts and an uncle:"Sis" Burkhart of Oswego and"Ruthie" Hoffman of Aurora, IL And Don and Ann Krahn of Mendota, ILHe leaves as well a family of good friends and a legacy great FORDS and "fast" memories. PRECEDED He is preceded in death by one son Scott Allen Bain. And one niece Christine Hauser. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Roy’s memory to benefit cancer victims through the American Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong , "Live Strong" Foundation. Checks may be made to the Roy Rogers Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family through the same address or at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be held Monday, October 10, 2005 from 3-8 pm at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, October 11 at 10:30am at the funeral home. The Rev. William Badal, of the First Baptist Church, Sycamore, IL will officiate.

Interment will follow at River Hills Cemetery, Batavia, IL.