Rodger Lavern Nelson

Rodger Lavern Nelson died at a group home under Hospice care on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Rodger was born to Virginia Keith and Erling Nelson on April 21,1947, in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Washington High School, Class of 1965. He joined the U.S. Navy on March 22, 1966, as a Radio/Sonar technician, and was honorably discharged on January 5, 1970. He received an Associate's degree and worked in San Jose, California and Phoenix, Arizona in the Semiconductor industry. He married Susan "Sue" Kaltenberg Bendickson on July 11, 1975, at the home of friends in Los Gatos, California. Their daughter was born in August of 1980 and shortly after the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona in August of 1983. Their son was born a few years later in November of 1987. Rodger is preceded in death by his father, Erling. He is survived by his wife, Sue, daughter Sarah; her husband Zach and two grandkids, Cathal and Dawn of Casa Grande, and their son, Scott of Tempe. He is also survived by his mother, Virginia of Phoenix, and his sister Linda and her husband Eugene of Pinetop, four daughters and grandkids and their families'; Earlene of Alabama and her daughters and their kids and grandkids; and her son, an aunt, lots of cousins and their families'. Rodger loved making puns, playing musical instruments, golf and bowling. His love of bowling started early as he was hired as a pin setter at 16 years old. He taught bowling to kids for over ten years in Chandler, Arizona. A memorial service will be held at Lakeshore Memorial on October 12, 2019 from 3:00pm- 5:00pm; with a reception to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to your favorite charity or by donating flowers to a local nursing or care home.