Deroy Lee Rogge

DeRoy Lee Rogge, 86, of Raymore, MO passed away on October 13, 2021 after a 3 year battle with dementia.

DeRoy was born on September 4, 1935 to Henry and Alvera Rogge in Auburn, NE. DeRoy grew up in rural Nemaha County, near Auburn, NE on their farm. As the oldest child, he helped his father take care of livestock and mending fences as well as helping plant and harvest crops. He attended a one-room country school from the first through eighth grade. DeRoy was baptized on September 13, 1935 at home and confirmed on April 2, 1950 at St. Paul’s Hickory Grove Lutheran Church near Auburn, NE. He graduated from Auburn, NE High School in 1952, where he was active in the high school choir, marching band, concert band, small instrumental and vocal ensembles. In addition, he performed vocal and baritone horn solos. DeRoy attended Midwestern Music and Art Camp at the University of Kansas, playing first chair baritone horn in the concert band and singing tenor in the choir. KU Director of Bands, Russell Wiley, persuaded DeRoy to enroll at KU, where he majored in Music Education and played first chair baritone horn in concert and marching bands for three years. DeRoy graduated from KU with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 1956. He met his college sweetheart, Sharon Kathleen Stewart in the KU concert band. They fell in love and were married June 8, 1956 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS. Shortly after, they moved to Waterville, KS where DeRoy taught junior high and senior high school band and vocal music from 1956-57 while Sharon taught 36 first and second graders. They attended St. Mark’s Lutheran Church where DeRoy conducted the choir and Sharon sang.

In early July 1958, DeRoy moved his household to Ellis, KS where he took a new job as band director at Ellis High School. He left Sharon behind in Marysville, KS at the hospital with friends, John & Lucille Steenson because Sharon was due with their first baby, Michele Renee, born July 8, 1958. Henry & Alvera Rogge, DeRoy’s parents, picked up Sharon with the new baby 4 days later and drove them to Ellis, KS to join DeRoy in their new home. Sharon became a stay-at-home mom and 2 years later, Craig DeRoy arrived on September 30, 1960 at the hospital in Hays, KS. They attended Christ Lutheran Church where DeRoy conducted the church choir and Sharon sang.

In 1962, DeRoy moved the family to Marysville, KS and from 1962-1967, DeRoy was band director for Marysville, KS high school and Sharon worked as a secretary for the Marysville, KS School District once Craig started school. They attended Mount Calvary Lutheran Church where DeRoy conducted the choir and Sharon sang. In 1965, DeRoy earned his Master of Music Degree from Emporia State University while teaching full time in Marysville.

In 1967, they moved to Kansas City, MO where DeRoy taught 5th grade through 9th grade band for the Hickman Mills school district. He shared his talent with thousands of young musicians over 32 years of teaching music and was well-respected by his students, parents and colleagues. DeRoy taught at Baptiste and Ervin Junior High Schools as well as Burke, Johnson, Symington and Warford Elementary schools. These schools fed into Ruskin High School and Hickman Mills High School where these bands earned many number 1 ratings in state competitions as well as performed in the Orange Bowl & Rose Bowl Parades, receiving national recognition during the 1970’s-1980’s. DeRoy was actively involved in the Senior Choir as conductor at Ruskin Heights Lutheran Church while Sharon sang.

In 1972 when Michele was 13 and Craig 11, DeRoy and Sharon bought a lakefront lot at Lake of the Ozarks! The family of 4 went from Kansas City every weekend to the lake and cut down trees, burned brush, leaves and logs the entire first summer. They slept in the bed of DeRoy's Ford F-100 truck when it was buggy and 100 degrees out and poor Craig had poison ivy to boot! After the lot was cleared, DeRoy and Sharon bought a used 1959 Elcona mobile home that they had moved onto the lot for the family to stay in. DeRoy's next project was to build a sea wall and sidewalks from the lake to the mobile home. Sharon, Michele and Craig were “gophers”….they had to find sandstone rocks on the beach as well as mix cement in a wheelbarrow (water, sand and concrete mix). After several weeks of slow, hard progress, DeRoy finally bought an electric cement mixer. Progress proceeded much faster, but the “gophers” still had to feed the mixer with concrete mix, water and sand and haul it by wheelbarrow to DeRoy! DeRoy became an amazing mason by the time the sea wall and the sidewalks were completed! DeRoy and Sharon finally rewarded us all by buying the first family boat...a 1973 Tri-sonic 16' mercruiser runabout boat which became known as the “The DSMC” (DeRoy, Sharon, Michele, Craig)!!! Michele and Craig quickly learned how to water ski, but the work didn’t stop there. The next two summers, DeRoy had two new projects….to build a boat shed and a swim platform dock. So the family took on those two big projects and completed them. Life was good and we enjoyed every summer weekend at our lake cabin. In 1990, DeRoy and Sharon decided to pull the old mobile home off the property and begin building an earth contact home. DeRoy and Craig built the cabin at the lake with Craig as architect and DeRoy as General Contractor. They did all the rough-in, electric, plumbing, trim-carpentry, painting, staining and finishing, laying carpet, vinyl flooring and hired out only the concrete work, sheetrock & HVAC system. The completed cabin is what is in use today for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to grow up and enjoy!

After retiring from teaching, DeRoy worked evenings at Montgomery Ward’s furniture at Truman Corners for 2 years. Following that, he built decks for homeowners with his good friend, Ken Mattie.

During Sharon’s employment at House of Lloyd, DeRoy had the opportunity to travel with her to Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong and Hawaii.

After retirement, DeRoy continued to be active in music by performing his baritone horn with Midwest Winds and the Western Missouri Brass Band. DeRoy was an active member of Lord of Love Lutheran Church, Belton, MO and conducted the Senior Choir. He was also active at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Raymore, MO, conducting the Choir and participating in Seasoned Saints.

DeRoy and Sharon shared 65 years of committed, loving and honorable marriage and they leave behind a great legacy for all of us. DeRoy loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren unconditionally. He was very strict at home and at teaching, had a strong faith in our Lord and Savior and led his life by example. DeRoy’s work ethic was unparalleled and he instilled that in his children and grandchildren.

DeRoy Lee Rogge was a man of honor. He had the initiative to teach everyone he encountered to be a better human being. He left a legacy of love, commitment, honor, compassion and drive for us all.

DeRoy is preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Rogge, parents, Henry and Alvera Rogge, Sisters, Marilyn Greathouse and Deborah Rogge, Father-in law & Mother-in law, Wayne and Agnes Stewart.

He is Survived by his daughter Michele (Dennis) Hock, son, Craig (Nancy) Rogge, Four grandchildren, Hollyann Brown (Trent Crowder), Brooke Janes (Jacob Moorhead), Cade ( Annie) Rogge, Leah Rogge and 4 great-grandchildren, Tristan Moorhead, Lane Crowder, Sabel Crowder and Hannah Moorhead. His sister-in-law, Sharleen Stone, brother in-law, James Greathouse and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 1PM, with services to follow at 2PM, Friday, October 22 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 310 Johnston Parkway, Raymore, Missouri; burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be 1PM, with services to follow at 2PM, Friday, October 22 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 310 Johnston Parkway, Raymore, Missouri; burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.