Gerald M. Rogers

Gerald (“Jerry”) Martin Rogers passed to his eternal home on March 30, 2024 at Friendship Village of Sunset Hills, MO.  Jerry was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Harry Martin Rogers and Ethel Mae Rogers (nee Yaeger) on August 28, 1934.  He was the youngest of three children, all of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife of 69 years, Nelda Ann (Preston) Rogers.  He is survived by his four children:  Gail L. Farris (Stephen), Dee L. Stufflebam (Brian), David P. Rogers (the late Janice), and Daniel M. Rogers (Monica). He is also survived by 13 adoring grandchildren: Stephanie Farris, Alison Clifton, Garret Rogers (Jennie), Graham Rogers (Jodi), Abby Meyers (Max), Susie Stufflebam, Molly Duncan (David), Blake Rogers (Janine), Sam Stufflebam (Catherine), Victoria Becktol (Martin), Collin Rogers (Rachel), Lucas Rogers, and Kali Rogers; and 23 beloved great-grandchildren.  

Jerry lived in St. Louis his entire life and was proud of it!  He spent the first 20+ years in South St. Louis, living in the home where he was born on Tholozon Ave until he and Nelda were married.  He was a proud graduate of Southwest High School (1953) and seldom went anywhere that he didn’t see someone he went to highschool with - or that was related to someone he went to highschool with.  His childhood was filled with baseball, Scouts, bowling, ice skating, speed skating, and riding his bicycle all over St. Louis. There were few streets or alleys in St. Louis that he wasn’t familiar with, and he knew someone that lived on most of them.  After graduating high school, Jerry worked at Bettendorf-Schnucks (and once bagged Red Schoendist’s groceries) and attended Harris-Stowe College.  

Jerry and Nelda met soon after high school and were married in October, 1954.  Soon after marrying Nelda, Jerry began in the insurance business with Maryland Casualty Company.  He continued with night-classes for many years to obtain his college degree.  Many years later, he completed a Masters of Business Administration through Lindenwood College.  Higher and continuous education was a priority to Jerry.  He was a life-long learner and avid reader.  He continued throughout his life to take classes and read books regarding his career, sports, and a variety of other topics.   

For over 60 years, Jerry worked in the commercial insurance industry.   For the majority of that time, he served those in and around the construction industry.  Jerry had a strong reputation for his knowledge of the bond market and his ability to understand the financial requirements needed to secure specific bonds.   After Maryland Casualty Company, he worked for several brokerage agencies throughout his career including the Bond Men, Financial Guardian and Corporate Insurance Mgmt which later became part of the Crane Agency in 2005.  

Jerry thought of and treated many of his business relationships as family and close friends.  He took great pleasure in knowing not only about their business but also their stories, families and hobbies.   As Jerry started to reduce his time commitment to work, he continued to relish going into the office to visit with co-workers and he was never known to turn down a lunch invitation.  

Jerry officially retired in December of 2020.   His strong work ethic, commitment and dedication to his clients were all a reflection of Jerry's character and integrity.

Jerry was always involved with his kids’ schools, sporting events, Scouts, Indian Guides and church activities.  He was active in the PTA, booster, and parent clubs at several schools in the Mehlville School District; he coached many ball teams for his kids and supported and encouraged any activity or sport his kids wanted to try.  Time with his family was a priority, and he planned vacations, trips to the lake, and outings to see baseball games, football games, and stock car races.  He had interests in a wide-variety of activities and wanted to expose his kids to them all.  

Jerry was an active member of the Mehlville Optimist Club for over 35 years.  He participated in  many events that raised money to help local youth and schools, including honoring, “Youth of the Month” for local schools, and organizing the Optimist Club’s essay and oratorical contest for local middle school students.  He treasured the life-long friendships that he made through this organization.  Jerry lived being optimistic and exemplified many portions of the Optimist creed.  He lived his life “looking at the sunny side of everything.” 

Jerry and Nelda were active members of Southwest Baptist Church (where they met), Mehlville Baptist Church, Concord Church, and most recently, South County Baptist Church.  Jerry was involved and served in many areas of each of these churches, including teaching adult Sunday School classes; serving on finance, building, and personnel committees; and serving as a deacon.  

Jerry served on the board of trustees for Missouri Baptist University and Windermere Baptist Assembly for many years, and volunteered with Nelda for “Feed My People Food Pantry”.    

In addition to vacationing and boating with their children, extended family, and friends, Jerry enjoyed playing softball and bowling on church teams for many years.  He and Nelda played Bridge and Pinochle for 30+ years, attended St. Louis Cardinal Football games, St. Louis Cardinal Baseball games, and the St. Louis Muny Opera.  He enjoyed working in their yard and carrying out whatever flower bed or project Nelda envisioned.  

Jerry was a loving, supportive, and devoted dad, but he discovered a new passion when he and Nelda became grandparents.  They seldom missed an activity, sporting event, concert, or recital that involved a grandchild.  They regularly chauffeured grandchildren to and from school, music lessons, sports practices, and events; always willing to help out their family and spend time with them. The basement of Grandma and Grandpa’s home became a giant playroom that was the setting for countless family holidays and wonderful memories of playing with cousins. Even as their grandchildren grew up and went off to college, Jerry and Nelda traveled to watch their sporting events, concerts, or just take a grandchild to lunch.  This support and dedication to their family continued with their grandchildren’s children.  The 50+ members of “The (Gerald and Nelda) Rogers Family” were blessed to have many years of celebrations, activities, trips, and reunions with four generations present.  

Jerry and Nelda moved to Friendship Village (Sunset Hills) in 2019.  There they made many new friends and became reacquainted with friends from their earlier life.  Jerry loved, and was loved by, the staff and care-givers at Friendship Village.  While his memory and conversation skills waned, he continued to love being with people, was always kind, and kept his caregivers laughing.  The Rogers family will always be grateful for the wonderful kindness, care, and love that the Friendship Village staff showed to Jerry and Nelda over the past few years.  During the past two years, Jerry was also lovingly cared for by the kind people from Pathways Hospice.  

If you knew Jerry, he was your friend.  He seldom forgot a name, and he usually remembered several pieces of information and stories about each person he knew.  His faith in God,  discipline in studying the Bible, and devotion to his church were a priority to Jerry, but he demonstrated God’s love in his everyday life in the manner in which he loved and treated people.  We miss him and mourn our loss but rejoice that he “... received a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11, NIV) and heard “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  (Matthew 25:23, KJV).  

Jerry’s visitation will take place on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at South County Baptist Church, 12995 Tesson Ferry Rd, St. Louis, MO 63128, from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  A Memorial Service will begin at noon.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to 

Feed My People,  171 Kingston Dr.,  St. Louis, MO 63125    

OR 

South County Baptist Church, 12995 Tesson Ferry Rd.,  St. Louis, MO  63128