Roger Dean Smith

Roger Dean Smith, 77, of Rochester, MN, passed away peacefully from a 9 month battle with cancer on Thursday, March 31, 2016 at home surrounded by his loving family.A celebration of life will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Calvary Baptist Church 5905 Silas Dent Road Rochester, MN.There will be a reviewal from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 8th at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home located at 18th Avenue and 55th St. NW Rochester and a reviewal at the church starting at 10:00 am before the service Saturday.Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Stewartville, MN. Roger was born June 24, 1938 at home in Nora Springs, Iowa.The son of John and Agnes Smith, he was the youngest of 10 children.He found and married the love of his life JaNeal Pearson on August 26, 1961.Roger enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1961 and served for 17 years.He was employed at International Transport Trucking Company for 27 years and served as a Traffic Manager.During this time, he moved his family to Tulsa, OK to manage a start-up sister companys traffic department from 1976 to 1980.He then returned to Rochester and worked in sales at Paper and Graphics for the past 22 years, and enjoyed interacting with customers.He taught Sunday school at Maple Manor Nursing Home for 33 years and was a long time member of Calvary Baptist Church.His interests included anything involving family; reunions, time at the cabin, traveling, tennis, reading, watching the Vikings, and playing games.If there were enough people around, a game of Rook would make his day!He may have even been a little competitive.He was especially known for his great smile, sense of humor, soft heart, patience, compassion, and unwavering faith. He is survived by his wife of 54 wonderful years; four children, Kim (David) Walker and their daughter Jordan from Evansville, Indiana; Lynette (Mike) Jacobson and their children Brandon (Omega), Ashley and Jennifer from Rochester, MN; Michelle (Robert) Wark and their childrenChristian and Hunter from Coon Rapids, MN; Christopher (Janelle) Smith and their children Ethan, Jackson, and Marshal from Abilene, TX, his sisters Ila Cole of Pittsburg, PA, Nadine Behne of Waverly, IA, Lavonne Benson of Carthage, MO and brother Chuck Smith of Des Moines, IA.Roger was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Darrin Roger Smith,four brothers, and one sister. A special thanks to Dr. Kwon, Dr. Vaughn, and Mayo Clinic Hospice nurses.In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family.