Memorial services for 91-year old Roger Hollrah of Chadron, NE, are Thurs, Dec 21, 2023 at 11:00 at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron.
A memorial has been established for the American Legion Bill Dowling Post 12 in Chadron. Flowers and donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Roger Lavern Hollrah was born on Jan 19, 1932 in Charter Oak, IA, to Homer E and Hilda M (Rademacker) Hollrah. He passed away at home after a prolonged and valiant battle with malignant melanoma on December 14, 2023.
In 1955, Roger married Anita Myers, and 2 children were born (Randy L and Kristi M). Later, he was remarried to Barbara Jean Gold on January 2, 1964. That marriage added Michael, Deborah and Rhonda to the family.
Roger, his older brother, and a couple of friends decided in May 1948 to leave Iowa and follow the wheat harvest. After traveling and working through Kansas and Colorado, they ended up in Northwest Nebraska.
Early in his time in Nebraska, Roger worked at several ranching/odd jobs for a time, making some lifelong friends. Survival during the 1949 blizzard was a challenge, as it was for all living creatures during that time.
Later on, he and his older brother enlisted in the Air Force – eventually ending up in Guam. Roger also worked in the San Diego shipyards as a welder, then welded on Minuteman missile bases in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.
Following that, Roger trained as a superintendent at a steel mill in Gary, IN, but eventually decided that Gary was not an acceptable place to raise a family and took a job welding at a new power plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
After a time, he and the family returned to Nebraska, then moved to Sterling, CO, but he and Barbara returned to Chadron after several years in Colorado.
Preceding Roger in death were his parents Homer and Hilda; siblings Shirley, Norman, Kenneth and Marlene, and children Kristi and Michael.
He is survived by children Randy, Deborah, Rhonda, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephew and both lifelong and newer friends.
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements for Roger Hollrah.