Mr. Roger Tinkham, age 78, of McCook, NE passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at Tri-Valley Health Systems in Cambridge, NE from Lewy Body Dementia.
Roger was born July 29, 1942 in Fairbury, NE to parents Guy Wilson Tinkham and Sylvia Irene (Jordan) Tinkham, where he lived on the family farm until age 5. He was one of three siblings.
The family later relocated to Oshkosh, NE where they began the family ranch. Growing up he learned to hunt, fish and work on the ranch. He was a real cowboy rounding up the cattle the old fashioned way on horseback. Roger graduated from Garden County High School with the Class of 1960. He went on to graduate from UNL in 1964 majoring in zoology. Roger began his fourteen year teaching career at McCook Junior and Senior High School, teaching science.
After his teaching career he went to work for the United States Postal Service for 26 years, walking 13 miles a day as a letter carrier.
On June 5, 1968, Roger married the love of his life, Gloria Sue (Richardson) Tinkham in Indianola, NE. The couple became the proud parents of two daughters: Debra and Rogina.
Roger had a love for the outdoors. He especially enjoyed goose hunting in his goose blind with his friend Jamie Forch on the Tinkham ranch. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening and hunting other wild game. Roger and Gloria spent countless hours fishing at all the local lakes, hoping to catch “Walter” the big walleye, always keeping a tally on who caught the most fish. They loved spending time together. His greatest fishing accomplishment was catching a large Marlin in Mexico. Roger loved all dogs, especially his little Lulu. He was a past AAU track coach for his daughters and in the summer months, when he wasn’t busy teaching science, Roger could be found flipping houses. He had a gift of visiting with anyone, and was frequently found at the coffee shop with friends. He was a member of the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents.
Those left to celebrate his life include his wife of almost 53 years, Gloria Tinkham of McCook, NE; daughters, Debra (Erik) Chaussee of Omaha, NE and Rogina (Justin) Coleman of North Platte, NE; brother, Stanley (Mary) Tinkham of Meriden, IA; sister, Joyce Helmink of Hickman, NE; and six grandchildren, Chloe Yates, Cameron Chaussee, and Courtney, Bryce, Brady and Leeland Coleman.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook, NE. Inurnment will follow at the Cedar Grove Cemetery near Indianola, NE.
Donations in Roger's name are suggested to the McCook Humane Society, PO Box 13, McCook, NE 69001.