Roger “Rod” Gorham, 79, of Cassopolis passed away Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 5:45 p.m. at Silverbrook Manor, Niles after an extended illness.
He was born at the family’s original home in Cassopolis on April 24, 1931 to Mark and Eileen (Halladay) Gorham, and lived his entire life in Cassopolis.
Ron was a former maintenance worker at Bendix Corp., South Bend, having served for 30 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and a member of the Decatur VFW Post 6248. Rod graduated from Cassopolis High School in 1950. He was also a huge University of Michigan fan; rooted for the Detroit Tigers; loved mushroom hunting, fishing, playing euchre and was entirely devoted to his dog, Bingo. Rod loved traveling, having visited most of the 50 states.
Rod married Joanne Ruth Davis on May 10, 1958 in Berrien Springs. She survives, along with three children, Jill Ann (Brian) Penning, Karen Joy (Dan) Smith, both of Decatur, and Robert Lee Gorham, of Cassopolis; six grandchildren; a future great-grandchild; two brothers, Richard (Carolyn) Gorham and Larry (Donna) Gorham; sister, Marcelene Gorham, all of Cassopolis; a brother, Donald Gorham; sister, Ann Sattelmaier. His parents preceded him in death.
A funeral service was held Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Connelly Funeral Home, Cassopolis. Officiating was the Rev. Larry Settle, former pastor of Pleasant View Church of Christ, Cassopolis. Private internment services will be at a later date. Friends called at the funeral home Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorial donations in Rod’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society.