Frederick Helme Rogers Jr.

Frederick Helme Rogers, Jr. passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025 in his home at the Inn at University Village in Vancouver, WA, just seven weeks shy of his 92nd birthday. He was surrounded with love by family, friends, and caregivers right up to his final hour. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 805 SE Ellsworth Rd, Vancouver, WA. Fred was born December 29, 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland to Frederick Helme Rogers, Sr. and Geraldine Osborne Shook. He went to elementary and high school in Catonsville, MD and then attended Mercersburg Academy for a year to prepare for college. He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland. Fred enlisted in the Army Reserve and served honorably for eight years. He went to work for the Bureau of Public Roads and had a long career as a government civil engineer, eventually retiring from the Federal Highway Administration. As a passionate nature lover, Fred was destined to move out west. He started his family in Libby, Montana before moving permanently to the Pacific Northwest. He was a kind and generous husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, and reliable friend to many. Helping others was a major focus of Fred’s life. In addition to volunteering at the churches he attended, he enthusiastically volunteered his time supporting homeless shelters, food banks, and many other causes supporting local community members in need. When was he called up by FEMA, he was happy to leverage his skills to help people recover from hurricanes and other major disasters. He also coached youth soccer and spent a number of years as a referee for both girls and boys soccer. Fred was an adventurer and consummate nature lover. He loved hiking, camping, backpacking, birding (he had a special love for cardinals) and exploring nature from the mountains to the sea. He spent many volunteer hours helping to build and maintain trails for the Chinook Trails Association and the Washington Trails Association. He was also a Scoutmaster and helped lead his scout troop through many outdoor adventures. Fred was loved by all who knew him. His incredible kindness and generosity were his hallmarks, as was his endless sense of humor. He had a special fondness for placing plastic spiders and other creatures in strategic locations, so as to surprise and startle the unsuspecting. He loved always, and laughed often. To spend time with him was to be infected with that love and laughter. Fred is survived by his sister Ann Ridenour (Jim), his first wife and good friend, Linda Marsh, his children Steve Rogers (Dona), Mary Ann Hansen (Reimer), Sandy Rogers, his stepchildren Rick Westre (Jamie), Suzanne Seaberg (Walter), Nathan Westre, Carmen Dawkins (Jim), Julie Huffman (Rick), Michael Andrews, Chris Andrews (Cheryl) and a sizable number of grand children and great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Fred was preceded in death by his brothers John and David, along with his second wife Neva and his third wife Gayle.

Frederick Helme Rogers Jr.

December 29, 1933 - November 9, 2025