Roger Sjoberg is not only a neighbor and the husband of my friend, Elsa. Roger is a very good friend and a big brother to me. I’ve known Roger to be a very generous, kind, thoughtful and loving person. He would always invite us to breakfast, lunch or dinner and pay for everybody’s meals. I will always remember his thoughtfulness. He would send me printouts of recipes he found online or he would send me fruit juice that he bought from the grocery store. He fought a brave and strong battle for years but he never defeated cancer. Up to his last moments, he is still fighting cancer and he would always say ”I want to live longer”. Goodbye Roger, you may be gone but not forgotten and ”may there be no sadness of farewell when you embark”.

Roger loved his family and is survived by his only living sister, Irene Habeck, nieces & nephews, in-laws, aunts/uncles, grand nieces and nephews and cousins.  He is the second youngest of eight children by Arvin Sjoberg and Bertha Lien and is one of the five boys born to them.  His eldest brother Darv SJoberg  and his wife Dorothy were very special to him, so is his eldest sister.  He called me his “baby” and tells so anyone who asks. Birthdays and Christmasses he never forget.  And he can cook!
We were married on Dec 22, 2000 and were together for a total of 22 years.  For most of those years there were just the two of us, except for the brief period that my mother was with us. We moved several times, then found the Orange Tree MHP on Orange Ave in Chula Vista , a senior park. We liked what we saw and decided to move in late 2015. He said then, jokingly, that this will be his last move.
Prior to our move in 2015, he lost his voice box due to cancer and became a laryngectomee. I became his caregiver. In Feb of 2018  he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Turns out his cancer had metastasized to his bone. He never complained of any pain, so I never knew the extent of his pain. But I knew, bone cancer was painful.  He was trying to save me.. it was painful to watch him be reduced slowly from a robust man to a skinny one. He tried to fight the disease and fought valiantly, but to no avail. Exactly one year from his diagnosis, he passed. In the end, there were just the two of us and he died peacefully in my arms.  Our life’s journey together have ended..,,

Uncle Roger tho he lived far away made sure he came home for all the important things in our family! He loved to come home and eat all the food he didn’t have in California! He came out to the farm a lot when he was home. He always tried to stay close to everyone! He enjoyed it when mom and dad would come out there  and spend winters there. When we came out there he loved to show us around and take us to Mexico by Hugo . One time he took us to see where they filmed the Titanic. He would often send me recipes to try or call when he was making something to make sure it was right. A few weeks before he passed he was looking for potato nails for us and my brother and my kids as he loved looking at the grocery stores. He  and Elsa visited us a couple years ago and spent a month here. He tried to be involved in family things graduation, wedding or funerals . I felt good being able to go to his funeral as he went out of his way to come home for so many things .

Three things that I will always remember Roger of:

1.  He is a good cook.  His roast beef and baked ham is to die for!  Whenever I visit him and Elsa, he would always prepare me a sumptuous meal. And will always say 'Not bad for a Gringo, eh?'
2. He dresses well.  He will always dress up everyday -  long sleeves shirt, leather belt, well ironed pants and a shiny pair of shoes.  This is even when he stays home.  He is always ready to go wherever and all ready dressed-up! 
3.  He drives fast!  For him, yellow light means 'go faster'!  So you better hold on to your seat when you ride with him.

I will always cherish these memories about him.  Indeed, he is not bad for a Gringo!  Rest in peace, bro-in-law!!


With fond memories, Norma




Roger with his friends, celebrating his birthday in July 2016 while visiting Macao, China.

Roger was my great uncle and a sweet, gentle soul. I remember living with my dad in Chula Vista after my parents divorced  around 1985-86 and attending Rohr Elementary, which was a block and a half away from Roger's house. I would go to his house after school almost everyday and he would spoil me with sodas and treats. He would always sit with me and hang out and help me with my homework.  He would take us to San Diego Padre games and often come to watch me play Little League games. When I grew older me and a bunch of friends drove down for a trip to Mexico and Roger insisted we spend the night with him. He put all 6 of us up in his apartment in Enscondido or National City, I forget which one. But he was so welcoming to me and my friends. He took us out to dinner and paid the bill. Afterwards he drove us over the border into Tijuana and we got pulled over for "running" a yellow light. Roger asked me "How much cash did you have in your wallet? " I replied "$40"and he said "give it to me." He folded the bills around his license, handed it to the officer and said "watch this." The cop went to his car, came back and said, "Have a good night!" My friends and I were blown away. I will always remember Roger as a kind, generous, and caring man. We didn't stay in touch as much recently but he always talked so highly of his lovely wife Elsa, who I met a couple times. I will miss you Uncle Roger. Thank you Elsa for your kindness and love you have given to Roger over the years.  Say hi to grandma Ellie for me in heaven.

Roger was the brother of my grandmother, Elvice. So, technically he was my great uncle, and he was also named my godfather. I bring all the formal relations up to say that he was so much more than that to me. Roger was the only stable male role model I had in my family for a long time. He was responsible and loving, a combination that is difficult to find. My brother Mark and I used to go down to San Diego to spend time with Roger. When my father moved to San Diego, we would visit him and often stay with Roger. He was so generous, taking us to baseball games, sneaking over the border to an excellent fish place in Tijuana, where he seemed to know everybody that ever worked at any restaurant. I loved Roger's intellectual curiosity, a big way he influenced me. His love for other cultures, and especially other culture's foods, were a big reason I grew up appreciating the variety this planet offers. He was there to congratulate me at my high school graduation and my wedding, the only member of this part of my family who was there for both. His openness to the world made him a great source of advice. I will miss him and that big smile. He was a kind, intelligent, and funny man. This world will miss him as well.

My thoughts and prayers are with you as you journey thru this coming week.  May the peace and rest Roger is now experiencing with our Lord, give you strength in the days ahead

My deepest sympathies and love
Chris

OBITUARY

Roger Arnold Sjoberg

2 July, 1943 – 27 February, 2019

Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary

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