Ivan Arthur Rogers was born Aug. 30, 1942, to Guy and Ruth Rogers in Potato Creek, South Dakota.
His family relocated to Washington state when he was a young boy. He spent his childhood hunting, fishing and played school sports. Ivan graduated from Boistfort High School in 1961. Ivan enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1967. During his time of service, he spent three tours in Vietnam and was awarded several medals, including a National Defense Service, Good Conduct and a Purple Heart.
In 1968, Ivan married Karen and raised three children together on a small family farm. Ivan was well known for his skills as a cabinet finisher, taxidermist, farmer and apiarist. He owned and operated several businesses including Ivan’s Custom Finish, Stuff It Taxidermy and Honey Bear Farms. Anyone that knows Ivan knows how much he loved to work the dirt of his own land. He had plenty of garden harvest to share. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and beekeeping.
Ivan is survived by his wife of 54 years, Karen Eleanor (Cramer); his three children, Joni Garson (Bill), Eric (Sara) and Mark (Gina); eight grandchildren; his three siblings, Mildretta Lauden of Wichita, Kansas, Thressa DeBoer of Olympia, Washington, Albert Louie Rogers of Juno, Alaska; and his aunt Elberta Witherow (Butler).
Ivan is preceded in death by his parents Guy Arthur Rogers and Ruth Estella (Butler).
Services will be held at noon on March 13, 2023, at Sticklin Funeral Chapel in Centralia, Washington. The burial and graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. at Claquato Cemetery.
