Roger Rife

ROGER RIFE

Mount Vernon

Roger Rife, 72, of Mount Vernon, passed away Friday, June 18, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, following a brief illness. Funeral service: 11 a.m. Thursday, June 24, at the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon, by Pastor Marsha Acord. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Private Burial: Lone Tree Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy; children, Aaron Thomson, Carrie (Patrick) Witt, Jon (Shawn) Rife, Emilie Minnick (Richard Wecker) and Adam Rife; grandchildren, Eliana, Bethany and Devon Homer, Mason, Jersey and Letty, and one on the way; siblings, John (Thelma) Rife, Joyce Rife and Jim (Nancy A.) Rife; special family member, Lisa Thomson; numerous nieces and nephews; and many extended family members, friends and neighbors.

Roger Earl Rife was born Jan. 10, 1949, in Nichols, Iowa, to Wayne "Babe" and Dr. Gladys Talcott Rife. He grew up in the Mount Vernon area, getting into trouble as kids with his brother, Jim - including bonfires and that depot incident. Their childhood fun kept their parents busy. Roger graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1967, then attended several colleges, completing three and a half years. He met Nancy Buenger at a children's symphony event in Cedar Rapids, and they were married at the Allee Chapel at Cornell on Aug. 4, 1990. He worked at Neal's for many years and found joy in providing service to the community-and was even rewarded with pie from time to time. Roger enjoyed traveling and going on road trips (preferring to take the back roads), having bonfires, playing cards with family and friends, going to stock car races and watching sports, especially the Hawkeyes.

Roger happily retired after nearly 40 years. He liked setting up bird feeders to watch the birds, and was always creative in keeping the squirrels away. Roger was a good man and a well-regarded member of the Mount Vernon community who liked visiting with everyone in a variety of places. He loved attending the symphony and local theatre events with his wife. Roger had a great sense of humor, was a wonderful story teller, and his family treasured his joyful laughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Jeanne.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Arts Iowa Annual Fund to support Orchestra Iowa.

Please share your support and memories with Roger's family on his tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.