Earl Rogers

EARL ROGERS

Iowa City

Earl M. Rogers, 77, died Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at home from pancreatic cancer. Respecting his wishes, no services are planned. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Iowa City Hospice.

Earl Marvin Rogers was born May 2, 1938, in Moline, Ill., the son of Earl L. Martin and Sophia J. Reynolds. He was later adopted by his stepfather, Frank Rogers. Earl spent his early years on his grandparents' farm in Muscatine County and attended a one-room school. He graduated from Rock Island, Ill., High School and Iowa State University, and did graduate work in history at the University of Wisconsin.

Earl worked for the Agricultural History branch of the USDA in Washington, D.C., and then moved to California, where he worked for the Agricultural History Center at the University of California-Davis. He was the compiler of many bibliographies on agricultural history. After receiving his library science degree from the University of California-Berkeley, he went to work at the University of Utah Library.

On Aug. 31, 1968, he married Susan Huxtable in Salt Lake City. In 1970, they moved to Iowa City, where Earl became editor of the Henry A. Wallace papers in the Special Collections Department of the University of Iowa Library. On completion of the Wallace project, Earl became university archivist until his retirement in 1998.

In retirement, his passions were travel and birding, visiting many parts of the world. He also loved reading, especially history, travel and academic mysteries. A lifelong learner, he enjoyed Senior College classes and volunteered for the VNA.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Howard Huxtable.

The family would like to thank Iowa City Hospice, Dr. Feeley and the staff of Cancer Care of Iowa City, and Dr. Silverman at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.