Harry Glen Rogers, Jr., son of Harry Glen (1884-1972) and Mattie Elizabeth (Westbrook) (1883-1972) Rogers, was born 10 June 1916, Alberta, Canada. He graduated in 1935 from Okemos High School. On 31 July 1937, East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan he married Nedra Bess Kiebler. Their marriage produced one child, a daughter, Judith Carol, born 6 February 1938. Nedra, born 3 January 1917, succumbed to septicemia 3 June 1938. Harry married Mabel Marie Modrow 1 June 1940, Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Michigan.
Sadly, little Judith accidentally drowned 4 February 1941 in the Red Cedar River, Ingham County. Her body was not recovered until 15 April 1941. She was interred near her mother in Glendale Cemetery, Okemos but later both Nedra and Judith were disinterred and reinterred Highland View Cemetery, Big Rapids, Mecosta County.
Harry served in the US Navy during World War II. He spent much of his military career in the South Pacific taking part, as a medic, on numerous island battle fields. After his honorable military discharge he became a highly successful business man in Mecosta County. He and Mabel raised 3 children during their 59 years of marriage. Mabel, born 2 February 1917, died 143 January 2000. Harry died 24 July 2009. They were interred Highland View Cemetery, Big Rapids.
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Harry G. Rogers, Jr., a resident and long-time local businessman of Big Rapids, Michigan, entered eternal life on Friday, July 24, 2009, at Munson Hospice House in Traverse City. He was 93 years old.
Harry was born June 10, 1916, in Alberta, Canada, the son of Harry G. and Mattie (Westbrook) Rogers. At the age of 7, he and his family came to the U.S. on Christmas Day in 1923. They settled on a farm near Okemos, Michigan. Harry attended country school in Ingham County through 8th grade, and graduated from Okemos High School in 1935.
Harry then attended Michigan State College in the Veterinary Medicine Program. After 2 years he transferred to the Gupton-Jones Mortuary College in Nashville, Tennessee, graduating in 1939 with his degree in Mortuary Science. Harry passed his state boards, and then worked for the Gorsline-Runciman Company in Lansing for three years until moving to Big Rapids in 1942 and becoming a partner with I.E. Wagner, the local funeral director.
Shortly thereafter, Harry joined the U.S. Navy, and as a Pharmacist 1st Class, he was assigned as a Medic in the Navy to the First Division Marine Corps, Amphibious Forces. For three years, he served in the South Pacific. He went ashore with the Marines at Saipan, Palamar, Luzon in the Philippines, and also took part in the battle of Leyte Gulf. On Easter Sunday morning in 1945, Harry went ashore with the amphibious forces in the battle of Okinawa.
On December 7, 1945, Harry received an honorable discharge from the service. On the day of his return to Big Rapids, his partner Mr. Wagner, was killed in an accident with his funeral coach on U.S. 131, and Harry immediately took charge of the business. For 30 years, he served the area as one of the foremost funeral homes in West Michigan, and simultaneously furnished the area with the only ambulance service until the formation of Mecosta County EMS. He also owned funeral homes in Howard City and Reed City during that time, and served as Mecosta County Coroner for several years.
For 17 years, Harry served as a board member of the First United Methodist Church in Big Rapids. He also was a member of the board of directors at the Citizens State Bank, the Permanent Savings & Loan, Central Michigan Bank & Trust, where he served as board president for a short time, and the Old Kent Bank & Trust. He was a longtime member and former club champion of Meceola Country Club, and was a member of the BPO Elks #974, the Oddfellows, Masonic Lodge, American Legion, VFW, Big Rapids Lions Club, the DeWitt-Clinton Conservatory, the Michigan Farm Bureau, the Big Rapids and Morley Chamber of Commerces; he was a Salvation Army Ambassador, and also helped with Cub Scouting.
Harry was preceded in death by his first wife, Nedra Kiebler in 1938. In 1940, he married Mabel (Modrow), who preceded him in death in 2000. Harry was also preceded in death by a three-year-old daughter, Judith in 1941, his parents, four sisters, and one brother.
Surviving are his children, James D. (Linda) Rogers, MD, of Grand Blanc, John W. (Dorothy Jean) Rogers of St. Joseph, and Jane A. (John) Johansen of Big Rapids; 9 grandchildren, Kathryn (Michael) Mihalevich, Taylor Rogers, 1st Lt. Harry Rogers, Dana Rogers, Millie (George) Tansill, John Rogers Jr., Jamie Johansen PhD, Jacqueline (Matthew) Suckow, and Jillian Johansen; 2 great-grandchildren, William Tansill and Jadyn Suckow; his brother Frank Rogers of Leslie; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids, with Rev. John Bookshaw officiating. Burial will be in the Highland View Cemetery.