Clifford A "Jack" Rogers
Clifford A. "Jack" Rogers was born on January 5, 1933, in Manteca, California to John and Amelia Rogers. Jack passed away holding Deb's hand, in their home on July 29, 2025, from complexities of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases in Durand, WI.
Jack began a long and rewarding newspaper and advertising career as 12-year-old newspaper carrier in 1945 for The Stockton Record in Stockton CA. Perfect attendance for six years led to management asking him to deliver proofs in the ad department. This further led to a career as an advertising salesperson at The Record. He joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1950 while working at The Record, but went on active duty aboard a destroyer, the USS Higbee, in 1953. He spent time in the waters near Korea after the war had subsided. His Navy days were very important and rewarding to him. He then returned to the Stockton Record in 1956 and resumed his advertising career, rising through the ranks, and became Advertising Director at the Salinas Californian in 1972, which was also a Speidel (and then Ganett) owned newspaper as was The Record. He was appointed Ad Director at the Oakland Tribune in 1981, but returned to Stockton in 1985 to open his advertising agency, JR&A, which was a success until his retirement and subsequent move to Arizona in 2013. He also later moved to Reno and then on to Wisconsin. His love for his entire family, including his first wife, Joan, although later divorced, and second wife, Deborah, was evident throughout his life. Jack leaves behind his three children, Sandi, Rick and Cindy, as well as three grandchildren, Jaclyn, Nick and Adam, and one great-granddaughter, Mabel. He also is survived by his wife and best friend, Deb. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Joyce Myrick, favorite cousins, Bob Smith and Joanne Inderbitzen, and ultra fav Uncle Wally, and his ex-wife Joan.
Skiing, cars, camping, boating, running, reading, sports, music, playing the slide trombone, and being involved in community fundraising events, especially air shows and Kiwanis, was Jack's mission in life, besides his drive to work hard and be a good person and good father.
His cremains will be placed by his parents at St. John's Cemetery in Escalon, California, on October 9, with a celebration to honor his life following. If you knew him well enough to toast a glass of his favorite wine, call Deb for details. That would make him smile!
No one on this Earth could ever replace Jack! He was one of a kind, but the really good, best kind! Anchors away Mr. Rogers!! Donations can be made to St. Croix Hospice, 1175 Centre Point Circle, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Durand, is serving the family.