Roger Alan Summers

Roger Summers 74, of Marshalltown, passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, At Grandview Heights Nursing and Rehab Center in Marshalltown, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at First United Methodist Church in Marshalltown, Iowa. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 30, 2014, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Family to be designated at a later date. For condolences or question please visit: www.mitchellfh.com . Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Roger and his family. Phone 641-844-1234. Roger Alan Summers was born in Thompsonville, Illinois, on May 4, 1940, to Burton and Cecile (Luttrell) Summers. He moved to Independence, Iowa, when he was a young boy then graduated high school from Dysart, Iowa, in 1959. That same year, Roger married his High School sweetheart, Judith Ann Whitmore. During their marriage, they had four children; Jane Summers of Des Moines Iowa, Kimberly (Michael) Beebe of Independence, Iowa, Nancy (Tony) Baldus of Ankeny, Iowa and Alan (Cindi) Summers of Ankeny Iowa. In his younger years, Roger worked in farming. He and Judy then relocated their young family to Marshalltown in 1966. As a hard working provider for his family, Roger worked briefly for American Fire Apparatus and ultimately formed a career at Fisher Controls as a machinist where he worked for over 22 years. He also worked for Coca-Cola, Hollingsworth Mfg., and Western Mfg. Sadly, Rogers wife Judy passed away of cancer in 1984. Roger later married Linda Brothers of Marshalltown, who passed away in 2009. Roger was the strong and stoic type, and a fighter all his life. You could describe him as a man who lived by the golden rule: the gold on his ring finger signifying love, a gold watch symbolizing hard work, and a Goldwing motorcycle demonstrating freedom. In 1988, Roger was hit while riding his motorcycle, causing a serious brain injury. After many years of therapy, and support from family and friends, Roger was able to return to live at home. Due to declining health, Roger had been a resident of Grandview Heights Nursing home for the past 10 years. This prostate cancer surviving fighter of a man saw his share of struggles, and then some, earning his reward of a peaceful eternity. Rogers ultimate joy in life was making handmade knives and operating R&A Knife Shop (which stood for Roger and Alan) out of his home for several years. He also enjoyed attending knife and gun shows, trap shooting, and the Izaak Walton League and touring on his Honda Goldwing. Roger looked forward to visits from friends and family; he collected many pictures of them for his bulletin boards which he prominently displayed. He was an avid reader of knife magazines and liked to watch John Wayne movies. Roger will be remembered as a good humored man who was the first to laugh at a good joke despite the outward appearance of any medical restrictions. Roger was a member of the First United Methodist Church and before retirement, a member of the UAW Local 893. Aside from his children, Roger is survived by his grandchildren, Nina Summers, Cody Clark, Joshua Beebe, Matthew Beebe, Will Summers and Reid Summers, as well as a great-granddaughter, Isla Summers, and three step-children. Roger is also survived by his sisters, Elaine (Dennis) Degner of Dysart Iowa, Janice (Bill) Bergmeier of La Porte, City Iowa, Joline (Jim) Bergmeier of Elberon Iowa and Joyce (Delbert) Greek of Mesa Arizona, and a brother Burton Summers Jr. of Michigan. The family wishes to extend gratitude to Grandview Heights Nursing Home for their kind and supportive care of Roger for the last 10 years. Also, the family would like to thank Iowa River Hospice for giving him comfort in his final days.