Obituary for James Rodgers
Ret. U.S. Army SGM James “Jim” David Rodgers Sr., 75, of Platte City, Mo., formerly of Leavenworth, passed away peacefully at his home in Platte City, Mo. on July 7, 2022, with family by his side. He was born July 13, 1946 in Heber Springs, Ark., to James Corbet and Roberta (McGowen) Rodgers. Jim lived in Heber Springs until the age of twelve when he moved to San Diego, Calif., with his parents.
On May 4, 1968, Jim married Florence Stein. She survives at the home after 54 years of marriage. He is also survived by their three children; son, James D. (Amanda) Rodgers Jr. of Bloomfield, Colo.; and daughters, Christina E. Rodgers of Lawton, Okla. and Sandra M. (Timothy) Bradeen of Platte City, Mo.; his mother, Roberta Rodgers of Kingman, Ariz.; two brothers, Michael Steven Rodgers and Daniel Zane (Dora) Rodgers, also of Kingman, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren, Brent, Nathan, Chloe, James A., Nicole, Shane, Zachary, Amanda, Sara and Cheyenne; four great-grandchildren, Davion, Carson, James E. and Olive; and his adopted family, Richard and Betsy Cline and Rian Gaven.
Following his graduation from Morris High School in San Diego, Jim joined the Army in 1965 and his 1st station was Anchorage, Ala. at a Nike Site. He then came to Ft. Leavenworth in 1968 where he met the love of his life, Florence. As Military Policy Confinement Specialist, Jim served at the USDB for 8 ½ years. Jim was on orders many times to go to Vietnam but was removed due to the fact his two brothers and step-father were already in country.
Jim served 18 months at Ft. Riley as a 1st Sgt. to a Field Artillery Battalion volunteering for Recruiting duty and was later transferred to Springfield, Mo. and became a gold star recruiter.
He later moved to the Kansas City Military Enlistment Command and was the Master Sgt. in charge of enlisting applicants into appropriate jobs. Next to Albuquerque Recruiting Command with duty in El Paso, Texas. While serving there, was picked up to attend SGM Academy “Spirt 26” class. Upon completion, Jim went to the IG team Recruiting Command at Ft. Sheridan, Ill., where he received the news that he was picked up for SGM Charlotte, N.C. Recruiting Command was next here he served 36 months before going to Ft. Baker, Calif. as the CSM. Serving there until 1992 when he came home to Ft. Leavenworth to retire.
After retirement, he was employed by the Veterans Administration at Leavenworth, first as a Cemetery Representative, then as a sight supervisor where he ordered headstones for non-National Cemeteries before retiring from there in 2011.
Jim was very active in multiple service organizations including, Post Commander of American Legion 23, Past Worthy President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles 55, Past Worthy Kansas State President for the Fraternal Order of Eagles, as well as a Past Grand Officer and South Central Regional President over Kansas/Missouri.
Jim was preceded in death by his father James C. Rodgers; his step-father, Francis Ginnard; and his in-laws, George and Gladys Stein.
Visitation beginning with the praying of the rosary will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, at St. Joseph Church, Leavenworth, Kan., with Rev. Glenn Snow, O.Carm., as celebrant. Burial with military honors will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Memorial donations are suggested to the FOE Diabetes Research Center, Iowa City , Iowa. Checks can be made to FOE Charity Foundation memo Jim Rodgers, DRC Memorial and can be left at the funeral home, church or mailed to FOE Airie 55, 300 S. 20th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.
On May 4, 1968, Jim married Florence Stein. She survives at the home after 54 years of marriage. He is also survived by their three children; son, James D. (Amanda) Rodgers Jr. of Bloomfield, Colo.; and daughters, Christina E. Rodgers of Lawton, Okla. and Sandra M. (Timothy) Bradeen of Platte City, Mo.; his mother, Roberta Rodgers of Kingman, Ariz.; two brothers, Michael Steven Rodgers and Daniel Zane (Dora) Rodgers, also of Kingman, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren, Brent, Nathan, Chloe, James A., Nicole, Shane, Zachary, Amanda, Sara and Cheyenne; four great-grandchildren, Davion, Carson, James E. and Olive; and his adopted family, Richard and Betsy Cline and Rian Gaven.
Following his graduation from Morris High School in San Diego, Jim joined the Army in 1965 and his 1st station was Anchorage, Ala. at a Nike Site. He then came to Ft. Leavenworth in 1968 where he met the love of his life, Florence. As Military Policy Confinement Specialist, Jim served at the USDB for 8 ½ years. Jim was on orders many times to go to Vietnam but was removed due to the fact his two brothers and step-father were already in country.
Jim served 18 months at Ft. Riley as a 1st Sgt. to a Field Artillery Battalion volunteering for Recruiting duty and was later transferred to Springfield, Mo. and became a gold star recruiter.
He later moved to the Kansas City Military Enlistment Command and was the Master Sgt. in charge of enlisting applicants into appropriate jobs. Next to Albuquerque Recruiting Command with duty in El Paso, Texas. While serving there, was picked up to attend SGM Academy “Spirt 26” class. Upon completion, Jim went to the IG team Recruiting Command at Ft. Sheridan, Ill., where he received the news that he was picked up for SGM Charlotte, N.C. Recruiting Command was next here he served 36 months before going to Ft. Baker, Calif. as the CSM. Serving there until 1992 when he came home to Ft. Leavenworth to retire.
After retirement, he was employed by the Veterans Administration at Leavenworth, first as a Cemetery Representative, then as a sight supervisor where he ordered headstones for non-National Cemeteries before retiring from there in 2011.
Jim was very active in multiple service organizations including, Post Commander of American Legion 23, Past Worthy President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles 55, Past Worthy Kansas State President for the Fraternal Order of Eagles, as well as a Past Grand Officer and South Central Regional President over Kansas/Missouri.
Jim was preceded in death by his father James C. Rodgers; his step-father, Francis Ginnard; and his in-laws, George and Gladys Stein.
Visitation beginning with the praying of the rosary will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, at St. Joseph Church, Leavenworth, Kan., with Rev. Glenn Snow, O.Carm., as celebrant. Burial with military honors will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Memorial donations are suggested to the FOE Diabetes Research Center, Iowa City , Iowa. Checks can be made to FOE Charity Foundation memo Jim Rodgers, DRC Memorial and can be left at the funeral home, church or mailed to FOE Airie 55, 300 S. 20th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.