Roger Wayne Anderson Sr., 76, of Stephenson, Michigan, passed away at his home peacefully on Friday, March 7, 2025. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Debbie, beloved daughters Jenny (John), Lisa (Tom), Sara (Dee), and son Roger (Lindsay). He is also survived by sisters Wina and Debby (Ron), brothers Harlan (Judy) and Gary (Pam), sister-in-law Jean, and many nieces and nephews. His grandchildren: John, Thomas, Becca, Connor, Paige, Eloise, Alaina, and Amara will always love their Papa.

“There’s nothing like warm milk from a cow.”

Growing up on a farm in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Roger learned a lot about the joy in the life you live. A wakeup call, chores, and hot breakfast … all before the bus arrived. Those early years were spent building memories with Harlan, Jim, and Wina, whose job it was to call Dad at work after an incident with a clothesline required 32 stitches. Good thing Rog was left-handed. The ’50s were filled with many stories, two included hospital visits to meet brother Gary and sister Debby for the first time.

The Andersons were mighty. Eight strong. Each week, they put on their Sunday’s best and attended St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. To this day, the train rolling through town remains a sight to see. The wheat-backed pennies Roger collected would have been more had he not placed so many on the tracks nearby the Ben Franklin.

June 2, 1963 — November 29, 1975 — June 29, 1977 — February 20, 1983 — January 31, 2003.

Of the 28,055 days Roger spent on this Earth, some stood out more than others. His confirmation, marriage, the birth of his first child (Jenny), son (Roger), and first grandchild. There was also the day he got his driver’s license (“after driving a tractor, driving a car was easy”), the day he met his second “Brown-Eyed Girl” (Lisa), the day he bowled his first 200, the day he retired, and the day in 1968 that he received his draft notice.

Roger spent 18 months in Vietnam. When he returned stateside, he had many jobs, slowly working his way south from the UP to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was there that he settled into a role at Shadbolt & Boyd, where he spent 16 years. He met his future wife, and they bought their first family home on South Burrell Street. When Sara (often referred to as Peanut and/or The Princess) came along in 1984, the family of six started to outgrow their corner home. A move to Bay View coincided with Roger becoming a Correctional Officer in 1989. He also took up golf.

Every November, Roger would return to Stephenson to support his family at hunting camp. Each spring he would feed the birds. Each summer he’d watch the Brewers. Fall was football season, and he’d wear red on Saturday and green on Sunday. As winter started, he’d watch Marquette and Wisconsin basketball and complain to anyone who would listen if the games were on at the same time. He enjoyed watching NASCAR … but he loved those birds … feeding them once a day and telling us when the turkeys came by, or the orioles were in season.

Shortly after his retirement in 2008, Roger and Debbie moved to Germantown. The door was never locked. The grandkids soon outnumbered the kids, eight in all. They would visit Papa and tell him about their lives. Although he once attended more middle and high school games than seems possible, later in life he would catch up on video calls … and he never missed a birthday.

A meat and potatoes man, his chocolates were never far from reach. He stayed in touch online, often racing Wina to the first “good morning” post in the family chat. His nieces and nephews have stories for days, while his own children continue to learn about the man he was and the people whose lives he made better. Roger is reunited with his mother (Audrey), father (Edwin), brother (Jim), and brother-in-law (Don). His story doesn’t end here, it merely carries on with tales yet to be told. We love you, Dad!

Friends and family will gather at noon on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Lunch served 1 p.m. at Joe's “K” Ranch, 4840 S. Whitnall Ave., Cudahy, WI 53110. Come as you are. Wisconsin sports attire encouraged.

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