Gary Rogers

GARY ROGERS

Mount Vernon

Gary Clark Rogers, 65, of Solon, formerly of Mount Vernon, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at the Solon Nursing Care Center. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at Brosh Chapel, located at 100 S.

Cedar St., Solon, where there will be a 2 p.m. memorial service, with a reception to follow. Private family inurnment will be at a later date.

Clark was born Jan. 28, 1949, in Walton, N.Y., the son of Harold and Luella (Van Loan) Rogers. He received a bachelor's degree in anthropology and history from the State University of New York-Geneseo. Clark met Leah Allen on an archaeology dig in 1979 in Mississippi and they married Sept. 4, 1983, in Hastings, Mich. Together they worked on archaeology projects in Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and all over the state of Iowa. Clark and Leah have lived in Mount Vernon since 1992. He had been employed as an archaeologist with Tallgrass Historians L.C. in Iowa City.

In July 2007, Clark suffered a massive brain aneurysm that left him permanently disabled. He spent the first year at On With Life in Ankeny, a traumatic brain injury rehab center, and made much progress. But in October 2008, he had to go live at the Solon Nursing Care Center and lived out his days at the facility.

Clark loved his family above all else, including his beloved dog, Ginger; Yankees baseball, Syracuse basketball, '60s music; and old movies and TV shows, particularly Westerns.

Clark is survived by his wife, Leah, of Mount Vernon; his mother, Luella Rogers; and brothers, Terry and Scott Rogers of Walton, N.Y. He also is survived by his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Bill and Sandy Allen, Bob and Sue Allen and Linda Deardeuff; nieces and nephews, Andrea and Kirk Allen, Allison and Gavin Deardeuff, Amy and John Clark and Melissa Allen; great-nephews and great-niece, Miles Ballard, Sam Deardeuff and Brinley Clark.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Rogers; parents-in-law, Bill and Madge Allen; brother-in-law, Dwight Deardeuff; and niece, Kristen Allen.

Memorials may be directed to On With Life Foundation, 715 SW Ankeny Rd., Ankeny, IA 50023 or the Solon Retirement Village Foundation, 523 E. Fifth St., Solon, IA 52333.

The family gives special thanks to the many wonderful people who have cared for Clark at On With Life and the Solon Nursing Care Center. He loved you all like family.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.