Calvin “Cal” William Roggow, age 92, of North Platte, NE went to be with his Lord on Friday, October 2, 2020. He was surrounded by family singing hymns as he entered Heaven.
Cal was born November 23, 1927 in Burke, SD to William Godfried and Ione Grace King Roggow. He was raised in the small farming community of Lucas, SD. He was the first of his siblings to attend high school, graduating valedictorian of his class from Burke High School in 1945. In 1946, he entered the United States Army, where he served for nearly two years in postwar duties. Following his honorable discharge, Cal attended Grand Island Business School, where he received his degree in advanced accounting in 1949. He began his career at Orin Contryman and opened their first branch office in Kearney, NE.
He met his wife, Mary Lois Smith, while in college in Grand Island. They were married June 18, 1950 and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this past June. They welcomed their first son, Lowell Calvin while living in Kearney. In 1952, Cal accepted a job with Hansen Fuenning, a CPA firm in North Platte. After moving to North Platte, the family continued to grow to include Carla Lynne and twins Beth Rynae and Brian Ross. After receiving his CPA in 1970, he became a partner in the CPA firm that grew to be called Hansen, Fuenning, Raetz, Erb, Roggow & Keck. He later founded his own CPA firm called Roggow, Miller & Neidhart. Over the years, he mentored many young CPAs and had a special gift for guiding them into furthering their own careers. In 1990, he sold his practice to Dennis Miller and Tom Neidhart but continued to work part time filing tax returns for long-term clients and friends until the age of 82, thus ending his 61-year career as a CPA.
Cal was a hero of his faith and an inspiration to all who knew him. He had a deep commitment to Jesus, family, clients, and friends. For many years, he was a strong leader in his church, never hesitating to fill any role, including elder/board member, Sunday School teacher, treasurer, song leader and even occasional pianist! He sought to support missions in many ways, opening their home often to missionaries and pastors. His gift of giving was always generous, selfless, and discrete. He also served the community by offering his accounting expertise to Christian organizations. These included Youth for Christ, radio station KJLT, Calvary Assembly (now New Life Church), North Platte Berean Church, Maranatha Bible Camp, and many others. He belonged to the Gideon Bible Association, the Full Gospel Businessmen, and the Nebraska Society of CPAs. He deeply valued education and served on the Evangel University Council for many years. He also volunteered his accounting skills to Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, CO from 1955 to 2000.
He was preceded in death by his parents William and Ione; in-laws Ross and Florence (Palser) Smith; brothers Vilas, Darrell, Stanley, and Larry Roggow; sister Avis Swift; sister-in-law Naomi Roggow; brothers-in-law Dwaine Swift and Hugh Townsend; and nephew Dwight Roggow.
Cal is survived by his wife Mary; his “baby sister” Darlis Townsend of Springfield, MO; Lowell (Cheri) of Colorado Springs, CO and their children, Brittany, Ross (Erika), and Braden (Katherine); Carla (Jay) Wardrobe of Gandy, NE and their daughters Gina (Les) Smith and Jana Woods; Beth of North Platte and her children Paige and Brendan Delany; Brian (Elaine) of Springfield, MO and their children Brinnae (James) Keathley, Brian Ross II, Bridget, and Brock; great grandchildren Liv and Bronson Roggow, Caspian and Bristol Keathley, one to be born in December, Sarah (Chris) Murphy, Blake and Jacob Smith, and Riley and Max Woods; sisters-in-law Amy Roggow of Colome, SD, Shirley Roggow of Gregory, SD and Donna Roggow of Sioux Falls, SD; and many nieces and nephews, including special nephew Brent (Shannon) Roggow of North Platte and their children Lyndsey, Whitney, and Brenton. The family would also like to extend their sincerest appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Andrea Alvarado and Allison Steele for their loving and tender care of Cal over the last three and a half years.
We were greatly blessed to have had him in our lives for so long. His kind and gentle spirit, smile, and the twinkle in his eye remained throughout his life, and he will be greatly missed by all.
A Celebration of Cal’s life will be held at North Platte Berean Church on Saturday, October 10 at 1:30 p.m. with Pastors Ray Corlew and John Stone officiating. Burial to follow with Military Honors at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens Cemetery.Visitation and Book Signing will be 9:00a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020 with the family receiving friends from 5:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Hope Embraced (previously Youth for Christ) or KJLT radio.
Online condolences and sharing of memories may be directed to www.carpentermemorial.com.
The service will be live streamed via Carpenter Memorial Chapel’s Facebook page for those that aren’t able attend. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.