By Msgr. Francis C. Henricksen
He was better known as Father Joe Rogers, but there is no problem of knowing who he was. As a priest of the Diocese of Davenport for 58 years, his pastoral ministry touched almost all deaneries. Eighteen of those years were spent in active military service — retiring from the chaplaincy with the rank of Major in 1975. From Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East, Fr. Joe returned and gave 23 more years of his life to his dedicated vocation for the local Church until 1998.
With almost Army disciplined regimentation, Fr. Joe died this week. His death came with little or no announcement. After a very short stay in the hospital, he returned to The Kahl Home where he had served as chaplain in his retirement. As trite as it might sound, his death was a blessing — a death which freed him from any prolonged suffering.
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