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Roger D. Ford Roger D. Ford, 64, of Rockford, died at 4:50 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, in his home. Born Aug. 16, 1942, in Lancaster, Ohio, the son of Clark I. and Anita (Roller) Ford. Roger graduated from Lancaster High School in 1961. He attended Ohio State University and Michigan State University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Forestry. He received a Masters in Applied Science from University of Montana. A close advisor convinced Roger to pursue a PhD in economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA. He left VPI for an advanced teaching position and further studies at University of Missouri and later, at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL, continuing studies towards another PhD at University of Indiana. Roger was instrumental in the development of tourism for Missouri’s Department of Recreation. He moved to Rockford in 1988, and applied his vast knowledge of parks and recreations for the Rockford Park District. He also worked for Nicholson’s Hardware and the Construction Industry Funds in Rockford. Roger was a member of Heartland Community Church in Rockford. He thoroughly enjoyed his small group, and after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, he volunteered to go to Waveland with his church to give aid to those affected. Survived by wife, Carol, of Rockford; daughters of first wife, Patricia Morin, Kendra Wise and Nicole Stremlow; step-children, Stephen (Susan) Pitkin, Susan (Gary) Contrady, both of Rockford, and Shelly (Mike) Ford of Rochester Hills, MI; grandchildren, Austin and Tayia Wise, Logan and Landon Stremlow, Jenny, Joe, David, and Jack Nethery, Kathryn Foster and Annelise and Sam Contrady; parents, Clark and Anita Ford of North Vernon, Ind.; brothers, Ron Ford of Butlerville, Ind., and Rick Ford of Geneva; and sister, Chris Fields of Mendam, N. J. Memorial service will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, in Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd., Fred C. Olson Chapel, 1001 Second Ave. Visitation will be from 4 to 5:15 p.m., prior to the service. Roger’s family requests that instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the building fund of Heartland Community Church, 601 Perryville Rd., Rockford, IL 61107. Spouse: Carol Source: Olsonfh.com (Dec 2006)
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