Birt Rogers

TRAVERSE CITY — Birt L. Rogers, of Traverse City and North Fort Meyers, Fla., passed away Dec. 2, 2011. Born Feb. 18, 1930, in Saginaw, he was the son of LaVern and Gwen Bixby Rogers. He married Louanne Schuette on Oct. 6, 1951; they celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2011. He was a 1948 graduate of Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw. Birt served as an electricians' mate in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War aboard the U.S.S. Pine Island, a seaplane tender sailing the Formosa Straits. He enjoyed his long career as a member of local 557 IBEW, Saginaw, working as an electrician serving several contractors over his 50-year career, with 20 years at Johnson Controls. In 1962 he worked in North and South Dakota on the Minuteman missile silos. Most recently Birt worked as an Electrical Inspector, and for an additional nine years in Leelanau County. Birt was a Past Master and life member of the Bridgeport Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite. He was proud of the years served as an assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout troops in both Bridgeport and Hemlock. He also was a member of the Lions Club in Hemlock.Birt enjoyed his claim to fame with a hole-in-one on hole one at Bay Meadows Golf Course in Traverse City.Birt could, and did, repair everything that needed repairing, not just for himself but also for his appreciative extended family and friends. He built two family homes nearly single-handedly. More than anything, Birt loved helping with his children and grandchildren.He will be greatly missed by his surviving wife, Louanne; four sons and daughter, Paul (Marcia), of Maple Grove, Minn., Gary (Anne), of Nolensville, Tenn., Neal (Cheryl), of Birch Run, Thomas (Patricia), of Brentwood, Tenn., and Sandy (Dave) Van Dyke, of Traverse City. Twelve grandchildren will miss their grandfather, as well as three great-grandchildren; his brothers, Roy and Jerry (MaryLou); and sister, Joyce Demand. Birt was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Kay Kaufman.Cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Please sign Birt's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.

Birt Rogers

December 2, 2011