Roger was born February 26, 1939 to Elmer and Beulah (Roland) Dunham in Wathena, KS and they later moved to St. Joseph, MO. His dad was a hard-working farmer and had Roger driving a tractor, hauling hay, and doing many farm chores at a very early age. He graduated Faucett High School in 1957. He worked at Millers Grill, then famous for their huge tenderloin sandwiches, and only 35 cents each!
The summer after graduation, he met and fell head over heels for Robin Merk, only 14 at the time, but who would later become his wife. They were married December 31, 1959 and moved to Kansas City, where he got a job at General Motors at Leeds on the assembly line. They bought their first house in 1960.
In 1962, he was drafted into the US Army and during that time, he served a year in Korea. He missed out on the birth of his first daughter and she was 8.5 months old before he got to hold her. After serving his time in the Army, he came home and went back to work at GM, where he became a General Foreman and retired in 1990.
Roger and Robin liked to travel, so they took advantage of retirement. Their biggest trip was when they drove all the way to Alaska! They moved to Raymore, MO, in 1996, where they became empty nesters. Roger was a devoted husband and father. He loved working in his yard and when he was in good health, had it looking like a golf course. He was always busy. The stock market and politics interested him and loved watching the Chiefs.
Unfortunately, diabetes won in the end. He ended up going blind and lost the use of his legs. He passed away at home where he had been well cared for by his family and the help of Hospice. He will be missed tremendously by everyone, especially his precious Boston Terrier, Holly.
Roger is preceded in death by his parents; his first-born son, Robert Lawson; sister, Rosa; brothers-in-law: Richard Means, James Nesselroad, Jr., and Doyle Acklin; a sister-in-law, Judy Nesselroad; and other family, friends, and past pets. He is survived by his wife, Robin, of the home; his three children: Rebecca LeAnn, Rochelle Louis, and Roger Louis, Jr; 5 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way!
