Services for Roger Wayne Emmert of Perry

Roger Wayne Emmert died peacefully at Mercy Medical Center July 20, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 76.

Roger is survived by his wife, Donna Mae Himes Emmert of Perry; Brock (Presha) Emmert, and granddaughter, Cecelia, of Alma, Kan.; Burke (Cheryl) Emmert, and grandsons, Gabriel and Sawyer (and step-granddaughters, Allison and Brook Blair) of Tipton, Iind.; Joy Emmert of Waukee; and brother, D. Edward (Lila) Emmert of Hutchison, Kan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, L. Dale and Catherine Wagoner Emmert.

Roger was born on July 11, 1942, in Des Moines, Iowa, but from birth to age 23, the family farm north of Redfield was his home.

He graduated from Dexfield High School in 1960 and then attended McPherson College in Kansas, where he earned a B.S. degree in mathematics in 1964.

Following his college graduation, he taught high school math and science in Plains, Kan., until 1967.

At that point, with the help of a National Science Foundation grant, he moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he received an M.A. degree in mathematics from Western Michigan University.

After earning his graduate degree, Roger moved to Perry, where he taught mathematics at Perry High School for the next 36 years, retiring in 2004. He held a number of faculty leadership positions during tenure at Perry High School and was highly respected for his teaching skills.

Roger did tutoring and taught an online class for DMACC for several years after retirement from high school teaching.

While at McPherson College, Roger met Donna Mae Himes of Navarre, Kan. They were married in Navarre Aug, 14, 1965. They welcomed twin sons, Brock and Burke, into their home in 1973 and daughter, Joy, in 1975.

Outside of the education field, Roger enjoyed gardening, hiking and backpacking, traveling, reading and watching sports on TV, especially tennis.

Roger grew up in the Panther Creek Church of the Brethren of rural Adel. He was a member there most of his life. He held numerous offices in the Church of the Brethren at the local and district levels. He was a longtime Sunday school teacher and vocal choir member. There he developed his set of ethical standards, particularly in the areas of peace and justice.

According to his wishes, Roger’s body has been cremated. A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, July 26 at 11 a.m. at the Panther Creek Church of the Brethren at 24529 J Ave. A time of visitation from 1-7 p.m., with the family present from 4 -7 p.m., is schduled forWednesday July 25 at Carris Funeral Home and Cremation Care in Perry.

Memorial donations in Roger’s memory may be directed to Heifer International or the Panther Creek Church of the Brethren to be used according to the Leadership Team’s wishes. Roger expressed the preference that in lieu of flowers a donation should be made to one of the above organizations.