Larry Ray Rogers

Larry Ray Rogers, 76, of Somonauk, passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, about 7:40 a.m.

Larry was born on a snowy Tuesday, April 4, 1950, at 9:59 a.m. at Moline Public Hospital in Moline, Illinois. He was the youngest of four children and the only son born to Raymond and Helen (Johnson) Rogers.

Larry grew up on a farm near Woodhull, Illinois, where he helped his family raise hogs, cattle, chickens, and dogs. He attended Alwood Schools and was an active member of the FFA. Following high school, Larry continued his education at Blackhawk College in Kewanee, Illinois.

In November 1970, Larry was drafted into the United States Army, during the Vietnam Era. He completed basic training and was later stationed outside Frankfurt, Germany, where he served as a Military Police officer until his honorable discharge in 1972.

Larry met Doris Osborne in December of 1967, and the two were united in marriage on June 14, 1969, in Kewanee, Illinois. After returning from military service, Larry and Doris made their home in the Somonauk area, where they built a life centered on family, faith, and community.

Larry was involved in his community. He was a member of the Jaycees in the 1980s, coached boys’ baseball recreation league, and served at his church. A devoted and active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Somonauk for over 45 years, his faith remained a guiding force throughout his life.

Larry dedicated 35 years of service to Caterpillar Tractor Company in Aurora, Illinois, where he worked in Building H constructing excavators. After retiring, he continued serving his community by working for the Village of Somonauk for 16 years, maintaining and caring for the village and their parks. He especially enjoyed seeing families gather and children play, often taking time to visit and connect with them, while wearing his bucket hat.

Larry was a man of many talents, a true jack of all trades who could fix nearly anything, from cars and lawnmowers to household appliances. He took pride in everything, including his yard, his woodworking and home remodeling, and his family often turned to him for help and guidance. As the grandkids would say, “papa could fix anything.”

He found great joy in life’s simple pleasures: spending time with his family, especially at Thanksgiving dinner with his little Pilgrims, enjoying desserts and late-night snacks, tending to his garden, working outdoors, and collecting tractors. Larry was a perfectionist who valued safety, had a deep appreciation for travel, and took a special interest in genealogy, proudly exploring his Swedish heritage. Larry has visited almost all 50 states with the recent being Hawaii and visiting Pearl Harbor.

A devoted grandfather, Larry rarely missed an event. He faithfully attended his grandchildren’s activities, including softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, dance recitals, Pinewood Derby races, Cub and Boy Scout events, and FFA activities.

Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Doris; his three children, Kendra (Matthew) Potter, Angela (John) Shoener, and Bradley Rogers; and his nine grandchildren: McKenna (Nathan) Potter Willig of Corpus Christi, Texas; Morgan Potter, Douglas, Grant and Alexander Shoener, Montana, Olivia, Calleigh and Dayton Rogers, all of Somonauk, along with numerous sisters and brothers in law, nieces, nephews and many cousins.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to the therapists and nurses of DMJ, as well as the hospice staff of VITAS Healthcare, for their compassionate care and support. They also wish to offer a heartfelt thank you to Larry’s special friends, Bob and Claudette Bittner, for their frequent visits and companionship, which brought him great comfort.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, sister Julie Beeler, two infant sisters, and his mother and father-in-law, Raymond and Wilma Osborne.

Visitation will be on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL. A Funeral Service will be held at St. John Lutheran Church in Somonauk at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026. The burial and Military Honors will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Somonauk. For more information or to sign the online guestbook got to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be collected and used toward the creation of a memorial at Somonauk Community Park in Larry’s honor, and to St. John’s Lutheran Church of Somonauk.

Turner-Eighner Funeral Home

13160 W. Rt 34 ~ P.O. Box 404

Somonauk, IL 60552

815-498-2363