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May 3, 1928 – September 30, 2018
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Obituary for Roger Clement Eklund
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Roger Clement Eklund of Niagara, Wis., passed peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, September 30, 2018, after a brief illness.
Roger was born May 3, 1928, in Norway, Mich., to Hobert Eklund and Eileen (Soderlund) Eklund. He moved with his family across the border to Niagara in 1931, and the family welcomed Roger’s sister, Dorothy, in 1936.
Under the tutelage of his beloved father, Roger spent his youth fishing for trout and hunting for birds and deer. He was also an avid cross-country skier.
After graduating from Niagara High School in 1946, Roger followed in his father’s footsteps, joining him at Niagara Paper. Roger worked at the mill for 46 years. Both Hobert and Roger operated and retired off of the Super Calendar machine—a fact Roger took great pride in.
In 1950, Roger married June Reath of Kingsford, Mich. June and Roger had three children—Mark, Linda, and Todd. June and Roger later divorced but remained deeply committed and connected until June’s death in 2015.
Aside from his family, friends, and community, music was Roger’s other great, sustaining love. He discovered the trombone in high school and played in the Norway City Band for six decades and the Dickinson County Band for four. In retirement, Roger was generous with his time and talents, playing music and singing at senior centers, nursing homes, and churches. He received the 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Breen Center in recognition for his meal-time banjo concerts. His spontaneous serenades at family gatherings were always welcome.
During his retirement, Roger also worked with his son Mark to build a modest deer camp, in which he took great pride. He was a purposeful man, getting up early to exercise and create wood-working projects for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren (some of his work can be seen at the Niagara Area Historical Society). He also re-taught himself how to play the piano at 88. He was a prolific letter-writer and deft with a funny sketch or pun. Above all, Roger loved being with his family and enjoyed the companionship of his friend Ruth Joy Vanderwarf.
Roger is survived by his son Mark Eklund and wife Pam of DePere, Wis.; daughter Linda Minten and husband James of Green Bay, Wis.; son Todd Eklund of Niagara, and Sandra Potts, mother of Andrew and Neal Eklund. Roger had 6 grandchildren: Alissa and husband Jim VanWassenhoven of LaCrosse, Wis.; Lauren and husband Nathan Underhill of Green Bay, Wis; Andrew Eklund and wife Laura Raskin of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Neal and wife Emily Eklund of Minocqua, Wis.; Anna and husband Ben Bourassa of Oconto, Wis.; and Alana Eklund of Niagara. He also is survived by his 8 great-grandchildren and a brother-in-law Dan Daniels of Pickerington, Ohio. Roger was preceded in death by his sister Dorothy Daniels in 2012.
A funeral service will be held at Riverside United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, 2018, with visitation hours preceding it from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Contributions can be made to Riverside United Methodist Church and Norway City Band.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Roger or leave a condolence for his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Niagara Chapel, to honor Roger’s legacy of life.
Roger was born May 3, 1928, in Norway, Mich., to Hobert Eklund and Eileen (Soderlund) Eklund. He moved with his family across the border to Niagara in 1931, and the family welcomed Roger’s sister, Dorothy, in 1936.
Under the tutelage of his beloved father, Roger spent his youth fishing for trout and hunting for birds and deer. He was also an avid cross-country skier.
After graduating from Niagara High School in 1946, Roger followed in his father’s footsteps, joining him at Niagara Paper. Roger worked at the mill for 46 years. Both Hobert and Roger operated and retired off of the Super Calendar machine—a fact Roger took great pride in.
In 1950, Roger married June Reath of Kingsford, Mich. June and Roger had three children—Mark, Linda, and Todd. June and Roger later divorced but remained deeply committed and connected until June’s death in 2015.
Aside from his family, friends, and community, music was Roger’s other great, sustaining love. He discovered the trombone in high school and played in the Norway City Band for six decades and the Dickinson County Band for four. In retirement, Roger was generous with his time and talents, playing music and singing at senior centers, nursing homes, and churches. He received the 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Breen Center in recognition for his meal-time banjo concerts. His spontaneous serenades at family gatherings were always welcome.
During his retirement, Roger also worked with his son Mark to build a modest deer camp, in which he took great pride. He was a purposeful man, getting up early to exercise and create wood-working projects for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren (some of his work can be seen at the Niagara Area Historical Society). He also re-taught himself how to play the piano at 88. He was a prolific letter-writer and deft with a funny sketch or pun. Above all, Roger loved being with his family and enjoyed the companionship of his friend Ruth Joy Vanderwarf.
Roger is survived by his son Mark Eklund and wife Pam of DePere, Wis.; daughter Linda Minten and husband James of Green Bay, Wis.; son Todd Eklund of Niagara, and Sandra Potts, mother of Andrew and Neal Eklund. Roger had 6 grandchildren: Alissa and husband Jim VanWassenhoven of LaCrosse, Wis.; Lauren and husband Nathan Underhill of Green Bay, Wis; Andrew Eklund and wife Laura Raskin of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Neal and wife Emily Eklund of Minocqua, Wis.; Anna and husband Ben Bourassa of Oconto, Wis.; and Alana Eklund of Niagara. He also is survived by his 8 great-grandchildren and a brother-in-law Dan Daniels of Pickerington, Ohio. Roger was preceded in death by his sister Dorothy Daniels in 2012.
A funeral service will be held at Riverside United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, 2018, with visitation hours preceding it from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Contributions can be made to Riverside United Methodist Church and Norway City Band.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Roger or leave a condolence for his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Niagara Chapel, to honor Roger’s legacy of life.
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