Rodger L. Nelson's Obituary
Rodger Louis Nelson, age 87, went home to be with Jesus on Friday, October 31, 2025. He joined the saints before him peacefully at his home in Saint John, IN surrounded by his family who loved him dearly.
Rodger was the first born to Katherine (Bont) and Louis Nelson on July 19, 1938. He grew up in Muskegon, graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in 1957, and continued to live there for the majority of his life.
Rodger met the love of his life, Joan, in the fifth grade. He couldn’t stay away from her for the remainder of his life. They were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 27th, 1958. He passed just before their 67th Wedding Anniversary this Thanksgiving 2025.
Rodger was very devout in his faith. It is so rare to have gone to the same church your whole life, but Rodger did just that. Faithfully attending, serving as a deacon and volunteering as the Sunday School bus driver at Berean Church, now Anchor Point Bible Church. While not the loquacious after church extrovert like his wife, Joan, he loved people by serving his church and community. He also put feet to his faith by volunteering at the Red Cross driving people to doctor appointments.
Rodger was an honest, hard worker. He always had a job and was proud to provide for his family. He worked at A&C Carriers as a dispatcher for several years. He then went on to work at McKinley Trucking Company where he was Vice President of Operations, until he retired in 2002.
Rodger was a devoted father. With his children, Mike and Kelli, he enjoyed having horses, snowmobiling, fishing and cheering on NASCAR and U of M.
After his children were grown, he and Joan bought their cottage on Saint Mary’s Lake in Pentwater, MI, where they would find peace and respite. He loved the quiet, chilly mornings with a cup of coffee on the porch, fishing, hunting, riding the four-wheeler and afternoon pontoon rides. The whole family's greatest memories were built with summers together at the lake.
In his later days, he and Joan enjoyed their sweet daily habits together of morning coffee, sandwiches for lunch and popcorn and sports in the evening.
Rodger could always be known for his joking personality. He loved a good laugh and to tease.
We will always remember Rodger’s famous sayings of, “Play with fire-you get burnt”, “Come on, Come on”, “Read between the lines”, “Need some sugar, just dip my finger in it”, “Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way” and “JOAN”.
Those who he loved dearly still on Earth are his wife, Joan Ruth (Borgerding) Nelson; his son Mike and Judi Nelson, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Kristina and Andrew Padilla (Colin and Landon) and Jacob Nelson; his daughter Kelli and Ken Persenaire, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Kenny Persenaire, Kyle and JoAnna Persenaire (Sutton, Jude and Grace) and Kate and Andrew Scott (Eze, Riven and Adler); and his sister, Karen and Paul Bolhuis. He was preceded in death by his parents Katherine and Louis Nelson; brother, Mark Nelson; parents in-law, Bessie and Herman Borgerding; brothers in-law, Richard (Nona) Borgerding and Dave (Phyllis) Borgerding; and great-grandson Aiden Scott.
To celebrate Rodger’s life and to grieve together, a FUNERAL will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 8th, 2025, at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St, Norton Shores, MI, 49444, with VISITATION taking place an hour prior at 10:00 AM.
For Memorial Contributions, Rodger wanted to bless his church, Anchor Point Bible Church, and Muskegon Rescue Mission. Please sign the family’s online guestbook and share memories at https://sytsemafh.com
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