Roger Power

Roger L. Power, 74, of Wiota, Iowa, passed away Thursday, June 12, 2008, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Roger LeRoy Power was born to Roy and Emma Power on February 1, 1934, in a home on the east edge of Wiota. He grew up on a farm east of Wiota, attended country school, and graduated from Wiota High School in 1952. At age 14, he became the 121st person in southwest Iowa to be stricken with polio.

In October of 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Jean Richter, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wiota. Roger and Dorothy have three children, Richard, Rebecca and Robert. Early on, the family lived in Wiota, Atlantic, Clear Lake, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Clarks and Fairfield, Nebraska, before returning home to Wiota for good in 1965. Roger worked in a variety of jobs including being the owner of Power Oil Company in Wiota. He spent the majority of his career in the car wash industry.

Despite being a victim of childhood polio, he never let it prevent him from being an active participant in the community. Roger served as Fire Chief of the Wiota Volunteer Fire Department, plowed snow, and served as the town's water clerk. He enjoyed camping, boating, and fishing anywhere from Uncle Joe's ponds to Lost Island to Canada. Roger found special joy in spending time with friends and family on his patio in Wiota.

Roger is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his sons, Richard Power and his wife, Virginia of West Valley City, Utah and Robert Power of Madison, Wisconsin; and his daughter, Rebecca Power of Wiota, Iowa. He was a proud grandfather to Curt Power and his wife, Joy of Denver, Colorado, Amanda Petty and her husband, Rafe of West Valley City, Utah, and Kyle Power and his wife, Alicia of West Valley City, Utah, and Rachel Power of Wiota; and great-grandfather to Rylee and Jayden of West Valley City, Utah. He is also survived by his sisters, Virginia Nissen of Jefferson City, Missouri, and Judy Ryan and her husband, Pat of Atlantic, Iowa; and his brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Mardelle Richter of Atlantic, Roxanna Richter of Beatrice, Nebraska, Don and Ruth Richter of Atlantic, Iowa, Ron and Ellen Richter of Aurora, Colorado, Barb and Dick Sisler of Anita, Iowa, Bill Richter of Boone, Iowa, and JR and Ruth Richter of Atlantic, Iowa. Roger is further survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a large extended family scattered across the country.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy in 1975 and Emma in 2000; his parents-in-law, Bernald "Slim" Richter in 1988 and Mary Richter in 1990; his nephews, Jeremiah Sommerer in 1981, Scott Sisler in 1993, and Chad Sommerer in 2003; his niece, Sue Isaacs in 1996; brothers-in-law, Tom Richter in 1996 and Ward Nissen in 2004; and sister-in-law, Ellen Richter in 2001. Roger was also preceded in death by family members and good friends, Elly Richter in 1990, Joe Richter in 1991 and Bob Richter in 2006.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic with Father Dan Siepker officiating.

Burial will be in the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic. Following the cemetery services, friends and family are invited to join together for lunch and memories at the Church Parish Center.

Visitation with the family present will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2008, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic. A scripture service will be held during the visitation at 6:30 p.m.