Rodger Wayne Meier

Rodger “Rex” was born on May 16, 1964 to Karren Lynette (Harr) Meier and the late Roger William Meier in Bismarck, North Dakota. Growing up in Hillsboro, North Dakota, Rex played center on the football team, wrestled, participated in track events, played trumpet in the band, acted in school plays, and was an EMT for the Hillsboro Ambulance Service. After the family moved to California, he graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento going on to earn an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from the Sacramento City College.

At just the age of 17, Rodger answered the call to serve enlisting in the National Guard of North Dakota. His 12-year service to his country with the 270th Military Police Company included deployment to the Middle East during the First Gulf War, Korea, and Los Angeles for the LA Riots and the 1984 Olympics.

He had a lifelong career with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he served for 29 years in various roles, beginning as a Correctional Officer at California State Prison of Sacramento County and ultimately retiring as Deputy Director, Division of Rehabilitative Programs.

In retirement, Rodger found a second career fueled by a passion to serve veterans. He joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10125 and quickly became a key leader, serving for over five years as the State Adjutant and State Quartermaster for the California VFW. From membership recruitment to supporting bills in Congress, his leadership, compassion, and commitment to the VFW and its mission was evident in all of his work advocating for veterans.

Rodger is survived by Julia Meier; his children, Katherine (Matthew Walker) Meier, Alexandra (Greg Miller) Meier, and Adam Meier; two grandchildren, William and Natalie Walker; mother Karren Meier; siblings, Ross (Kimberlie) Meier, Ryan (Michelle) Meier, and Joyce (Johnny) McCormack; and more loved ones.

He will be remembered as a lifelong Miami Dolphins fan, a wine and whiskey connoisseur, a proud U.S. Army Veteran, a foodie with a passion for barbequing, a loyal friend to many and a loving brother to few, and a proud father and grandfather.

A mentor, respected colleague, leader, friend, son, brother, uncle, dad, and doting grandpa, he will be missed by many.

The family has chosen to celebrate his life privately. Memorial donations can be made to the VFW (vfw.org) in continuation of his passion for supporting veterans or to the UC Davis Hospice Program (give.ucdavis.edu/Go/Hospice) for their care during Rodger’s final days.