After graduating from Wausau High School with the class of 1940, he served in World War II as part of the 89th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron of the U.S. Army, and saw action in the European Theater, including the Battle of the Bulge. Upon his return from the war Roger spent 21 years in the family business that operated a livestock dealership in the Wausau area for three generations. In 1965, he joined Dairyland Seed Company of Kewaskum where he served as the plant manager until his retirement in 1987.

On July 5, 1947, he was united in marriage to Olive M. Heroux in Wausau. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish in West Bend and was a member of the Adrian Neubauer V.F.W. Post 8658.

Survivors include his wife Olive; four children, Pat (Roger) Francis of Phoenix, Ariz., Dennis (Ann Stephani) of Madison, David (Elaine) of Grafton and Janet Alemi of West Bend; seven grandchildren; three sisters, Virginia (Russell) Day of Wausau, Jean (George) Muelrath of Wauwatosa and Shirley (Daniel) Ayala of San Jose, Calif.; two brothers, Jim (Marlene) Strachota of Wausau and Jerry Strachota of King; one sister-in-law, Marge Strachota of Wausau; other relatives and friends. A brother, Russell, predeceased.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Dec. 4, 2000 at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, West Bend. Rev. Patrick Wendt will be the presider, and burial will be on Tuesday at Restlawn Memorial Park in Wausau. Visitation will be at the church only on Monday from 4:30 p.m. until the time of the services. The family prefers memorials to St. Joseph’s Community Hospital Hospice Unit.

The Schmidt Funeral Home, West Bend, is serving the family.