Wendell Joseph Rogers

Wendell Joseph Rogers

Wendell Joseph Rogers, age 66, was born April 28, 1957, to Horace and Edna Rogers of Gary, IN. He was the youngest of four sons: Hoarce Jr., Billy, Calvin, and Wendell. Wendell lived in Gary, Indiana most of his young life attending Sacred Heart, Holy Angels, Bishop Noll (Class of 1976); he later attended Indiana State University, the University of Maryland’s School of Business in Japan, and St. Joseph’s Degree Completion Program.

His Loves

Coming up Wendell loved sports. From his “balling” game of back-yard basketball, to football, chess and pool; he loved it all, and did it all. Moreover, Wendell was an avid reader, majoring in Political Science with a personal enthusiasm for African American Studies and Government. But above everything else, his greatest pride and joy was his one and only son, Matthew Turner. Approximately 15 years ago, Wendell moved down to Indianapolis solely to be close to Matthew, ensuring that he would be a very present, influential father in his son’s young life.

His Work

Wendell’s first job was at U.S. Steel’s Sheet and Tin Mill in 1981. Shortly after that he became a part of the Air Force and worked in Inventory Management until 1988. After the Air Force, Wendell worked at BP AMOCO, the Gary Sanitary District, was a teacher for First Baptist Church’s Adult Education program, became a Bank Loan Officer, a Senior Loan Officer, and a partner in a privately owned mortgage company in Griffith.

His Life

On a more personal, family note, Wendell was the youngest of four brothers. His older brothers taught him simple, necessary facts about life, but his parents taught him character and resilience. Wendell was unusually mature as a young teenager, being trusted to drive his daddy’s brand-new cars: namely, a burgundy and white Grand Torino Elite and a Cadillac Coupe De Ville of the same classic colors. Wendell liked nice cars! To everyone’s surprise, although Wendell was always a gentleman who enjoyed the company of beautiful women, he chose to remain single...truly one of Indiana’s most eligible, handsome bachelors! Friends that loved him the most share that Wendell had a big caring, compassionate heart. He was sensitive, gregarious, and never met a stranger, getting along with anyone and everyone. Let it be known that Wendell Joseph Rogers could roll socially with the best of them- company presidents, mayors, common laborers, and even share compassion and conversation with the homeless and less fortunate.

His Thoughts

What Wendell said about himself is that while he is a “pretty nice guy”, he is adamant about some things: He said, “If you ever want to see the fire come out of me, it’s when there is apparent injustice. “ Adding to that he said,” I have been blessed. I have always been treated well by people because I believed in treating people well.” In his own reminiscence, Wendell said, “The most important thing in life is to have a good, sound character, and a determination to make good decisions consistently.” Once Wendell realized his health was compromised, his mantra became these very words: “ I have had a good life.”

His Faith

Wendell was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and although he was baptized in the Catholic church in his youth, on November 6, 2022, he was baptized by emersion (creative emersion) at Trinity Baptist Church in Gary by Pastor Dwight A. Gardner. II Corinthians 5:6-8 says, “6 Therefore, we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Wendell is no longer with us, but he is, indeed, in the presence of God, and if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you will see him again. Knowing that, we praise God!

His Family

Preceding Wendell in death are his parents, Edna Mae and Hoarce Rogers Sr.; brothers: Horace Jr., and Billy Lee Rogers; niece: Monica Carol Rogers, as well as his maternal and paternal grandparents. Left to cherish his memory are his son: Matthew (Donnica) Turner; granddaughters: Mehlani and Dariyah Turner; older brother: Calvin (Crystal) Rogers; nephews: Shawn, Cory, Curtis, Treymane, Ryan and Brion Telly Rogers; and two nieces: Talisa L. Rogers, and TaLai L. (Daniel) Smith.

My Journey’s Just Begun

Don’t think of me as gone away,

My journey’s just begun.

Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one.

Just think of me as resting from the sorrows

and the tears, in a place of warmth and comfort

where there are no days and years.

Think of how I must be wishing

that you could know today:

how nothing but our sadness can really pass away.

Think of me as living in hearts of those ‘ve touched

For nothing loved is ever lost...

And I was loved so much.

Author Unknown