Rodger Winfield Johnson

Rodger was born on November 17, 1936, to Clarence “Kelly” Johnson and Ruth (Scott) Johnson, in Firth, Nebraska. He was the third child in a family of six children, with an older brother and sister and three younger sisters.

After his family moved to Nevada in 1941, where his father pursued teaching opportunities at Gerlach, Golconda, and Austin, the family eventually settled in Fallon in 1948 where Rodger graduated from high school; he then enrolled at the University of Nevada at Reno, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Education in 1957. After college graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. It was then he served two years of active duty, mostly in Hawaii, where he worked as a medic and had many other duties, during which time he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. After serving in the army, Rodger met his future wife, Army First Lieutenant Barbara Lynch, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, while Rodger was taking a cross-country trip.

They were married July 28th, 1962, in Dorchester, Massachusetts at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, after which they moved west to Reno, Nevada. There, he began his service in the Nevada Army National Guard. He retired from the Guard in 1985, after rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He then worked for another 11 years as an appraiser for Churchill County, as an employee of the Churchill County Credit Union, as a school teacher in Reno and Carson City, and at other positions. He and Barbara raised a good family of three sons and one daughter.

Rodger enjoyed many hobbies, including woodworking. He built countless pieces of furniture, such as chairs, tables, shelves, and bed frames, along with smaller items such as wooden bowls and containers. Many of his pieces were reproductions of Stickley furniture. All of his siblings and children, and many other relatives and friends, were recipients of his oak rocking chairs and other pieces of furniture. Rodger was a stickler for quality, and spent considerable time on each item, making sure each piece was as perfect as possible.

Rodger was exceedingly bright, and excelled at trivia games.

Rodger died peacefully in his sleep on July 22, 2026. He is survived by sons Mark (Cathy), Eric (Stacey), Kevin; daughter Kathryn and granddaughter Kaelan; sisters Mary Lou, Karmen, Marcia, and Kelli Jean, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, brother, Donald, and grandson, Aidan.

He will be missed greatly.

A Memorial Service for Rodger is scheduled at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada, at 9:00am on Thursday, August 6th.