Born: Jan. 30, 1927

Died: Sept. 29, 2013

John Edward Rodgers, age 86, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013.  He was born Jan. 30, 1927 in Niles, Mich., a son of Peter P. and Virginia M. (Lower) Rodgers.

He graduated from Niles High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. John continued his education earning his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in 1957 and continued to take several graduate level courses. Upon his graduation, John started employment at First National Bank, was made an officer one year later and retired 39 years later from the renamed First of America Bank. He had many hobbies including: gardening, photography, restoring antique tools, numismatics, genealogy and travelling. John was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church. John was preceded in death by his parents and by his eldest son, Michael Rodgers, in 1999.

In John’s junior year at Western he met the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, Shirley Lloyd. Six months later, on March 24, 1951, John married Shirley, who survives.

Also surviving are: a son, Stephen (Lisa) Rodgers of Portage; a daughter-in-law, LuAnn Rodger of Kalamazoo; two grandsons, Kevin and Patrick Rodgers of Kalamazoo; a sister, Jean French of Niles; a brother, Peter (Anita) Rodgers of Elkhart, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 5-7pm at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday morning at St. Monica Catholic Church, 534 W. Kilgore, with Rev. Fr. Robert Consani, Presider.  Burial in Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park, South will follow.

Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association or the charity of one’s choice. Please visit John’s personalized webpage at www.langelands.com