Jon R. Rogers passed away Friday, July 22, 2022, from complications after suffering a stroke in April of the same year. He was cared for at Aspen Ridge Rehabilitation Center in Murray, Utah. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the caregivers and staff of Aspen Ridge that provided outstanding care and services.
Jon was born in Upalco, Utah, located in the Uinta Basin, to the parents of Milan and Romola Rogers. He was the youngest of five siblings. His father was a blacksmith and farrier on the family homestead and provided services to the Ute Indian Tribe who brought their horses for shoeing. This is where Jon developed a great love for horses and the outdoors.
From an early age Jon developed a passion for horses, and during his younger years hes aways had one or more horses that he loved to ride and care for. He and his friends would frequently ride off into the Uinta Mountains near the family home for multiple days of hunting, fishing, and exploration. At heart Jon was and will always be a Cowboy and an Outdoorsman. Jon maintained ownership of the family property and home in Upalco, and even during his later years in life he would return to the homestead as a base camp to hunt the woods and mountains for elk and deer with his son Scott and other family members.
Educated in the Duchesne County School system he grew up being all boy. He maintained the reputation of being one of the “wild ones” with his gang of friends. He was known for having one of the newest, sharpest, and desirable cars in the area. Recognized in adolescence for his striking good looks and defining physical features, all the young girls wanted to date Jon. However, with all the competition a young and stunning woman Barbara McDonald from Roosevelt, Utah captured his heart and love as his lifelong wife and eternal companion. Jon and Barbara were married March 20, 1958, in Duchesne Utah and were later sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 31, 1973.
During his late teens and early twenties Jon brought his passion for horses and the cowboy culture to reality by participating in local rodeo events. He participated in saddle bronc riding and steer wrestling.
In one memorable rodeo event he shared this experience in a church talk that also exemplifies his testimony and faith in God. Jon said, “I was participating in a rodeo, and I had a wife and two small children to support. Believe me that is a hard way to do it brethren. But any way I was bulldogging this steer and when I got down on it from the horse the steer fell and we really took a fall head over heels two or three times, but as we fell, I thought one of the horns had gone through my stomach.I did not dare to let loose of the steer to find out .I was so scared, so I done what so many of us do at the last resort and minute, I called on my Father in heaven in a short, almost few words.And as it turned out, I only had knocked the wind out of I have asked Him several times for guidance and leadership in some problems I have had great questions about, and they have all been answered, and you can believe me it is the utmost wonderful feeling to receive one of those answers.”
Over the years Jon held many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the two callings that Jon held dear to his heart was as a Stake Missionary for the Sandy Vegetable Project in the Sandy Utah Central Stake. He served for greater then eight years with four of those years in the leadership position. Jon found tremendous joy in this calling, serving faithfully. During his four years as leader of the vegetable project it was the top producing and yielding project in the church welfare system for similar types of welfare projects.
The calling he most enjoyed serving was in the Branch Presidency of the Alta View Hospital. Over his years of service, he touched the hearts of many hospital patients and members of the hospital staff. On occasion Jon would invite his son-in-law to join him in providing the sacrament to faithful church members throughout the hospital, or on visits to the patient rooms mid-week. It was observed how Jon was always in touch with the spirit to guide them in their duties. Jon was often blessed with just the right words to comfort those who most needed comforting. The calling provided Jon with many humbling and spiritual experiences that strengthened his faith and testimony in the Gospel.
When you question anyone in the family what they remember most about Jon, it will certainly be reported that it was his love of family and particularly his love for his grandchildren. He loved their visits to the family home and the many planned family gatherings; especially, Christmas. Being around and surrounded by family was important to him. His compassion and concern for all the family was carried forth by his many phone calls to family members, often daily for some, to check on their well being and to see what may be new and exciting in their lives.
His larger-than-life personality was trumped by his humor and fun personality. One of his granddaughters recently wrote, “The man, the myth and for sure a legend in his own right! He would be so proud to know that for once I have no words to say. Grandpa I will always cherish the calls we had, the inside jokes that you and I only knew and of course the mischief we always were getting in trouble from Grandma.”
Jon spent most of his working life as a line truck driver. Majority of his career, over twenty years was working for M&M Distributing transporting Coor’s Beer from the brewery in Golden, Colorado to the various beverage distributors in the Mountain West. In retirement he kept active by being a service shuttle driver for the Jerry of his GMC Buick dealership located in South Jordan, Utah. He provided his shuttle service with compassion to those he served, and Jon knew his way to nearly every residential street and business location along the Wasatch front. He is remembered for one of his most used lines that “Buicks are for old ladies.” Jon was a lifelong fan of BYU football and during the season was not shy in defining his allegiance to the team by teasing those family members who had retreated to the dark side by supporting the Utes.
Jon was the last surviving sibling in his family. He is preceded in death by his four older siblings: Rees Milan Rogers, Max Venter Rogers, Joyce Rogers Spurlock, and David Jae Rogers who passed away just one week prior. He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years Barbara McDonald Rogers; daughter Bobbi Rae Fruehan (Mark), of South Jordan, Utah; daughter Jan Rogers Roberts (Cory) of Riverton, Utah; son Scott Monroe Rogers (Marianne), of Roosevelt, Utah; seven grandchildren; Alex Marrott; Ryan Marrott; Ashlee Barrett; Analece Gunn; Jeremy Rogers; Jesse Rogers, Kelsey Carillo, and fourteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 29, 2022, at 11:00AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel located at 9824 South Flint Drive (1150 East), Sandy, Utah. Family and friends may call between the hours of 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM at the same location. Internment will occur at the Riverton City Cemetery located at 1540 W 13200 S, Riverton, Utah.
A live stream of the services will be available via Zoom for those unable to attend in person and can be accessed by clicking on the “Watch Services” link above or follow the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85468860934
Published by Legacy on Jul. 27, 2022.
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