Obituary of Richard Randall Rogers

Richard Randall “Randy” Rogers, age 78 longtime area educator, coach, businessman and resident died Sunday, October 6, 2024, in Wayne, Nebraska where he and his wife, Shirlee had moved to be closer to family.

Funeral services will be held at 4pm Sunday, October 13^th. at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City where visitation will be from 2 pm until service time.  Masonic memorial services will be held at 6pm Sunday that evening.  Burial will take place on Monday at the Laurel, Nebraska cemetery at 3pm.  In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Randy’s memory.  

Richard Randall Rogers was born March 12, 1946, in LeClaire, Iowa the son of John G. and Rhea (Palmer) Rogers.  Following graduation from high school in Bettendorf, he attended and later graduated from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE with a degree in education.  Later he received his Masters in Administration from Northeast Missouri State in Kirksville, MO. He began his career in education at West High School in 1969, the first year the school was open.  His career would span over 35 years as a teacher in industrial education, but also as a coach in football, wrestling and track and field at West High, Central Junior High and Northwest Junior High. During this time, as if he wasn’t busy enough, Randy opened the Triple R Driving School.  Teaching drivers education to the young and old and every age in between. His classes always had a waiting list, and generations have learned to drive through Triple R over the forty years in existence. True to the Randy Rogers everyone knew, all his students, young and old were friends for life.  He was Mr. Social, couldn’t go anywhere without knowing someone, and of course had to say a FEW words when they met.  Randy also enjoyed his membership in the Masonic Lodge and being a Krazy Klown.  He liked to go fishing and morel hunting, but really it was his family, especially his grandchildren that lite up his face, even if it was just bragging about them to a friend!

His family includes his wife, Shirlee; their two children, (remember the name of the driving school) Rachelle and her husband, Sean Spann and Rob and his wife, Sara Rogers; 3 grand children, Dakota Spann, Skylar Spann and Gunner Rogers;  nieces, nephews, and many friends and former students and athletes who remain friends to their coach!

Rest in peace Coach, thank you for always believing in the young people you started on their way in life!