St. James Lutheran Church - Roger Nothdorf

St. James Lutheran Church

Roger W. Nothdorf

Roger W. Nothdorf, 80, of Rock Island, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 at his home.

Funeral services are at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 3 at St. James Lutheran Church, Rock Island. Burial is at the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be presented by American Legion Posts 200 and 569 and VFW Post 1303. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030 7th Ave, Rock Island. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rock Island Evening Lions Club, Rock Island High School Athletic Dept., Rock Island/Milan Education Foundation or to a favorite charity.

Roger was born June 29, 1930 in Bennett, Iowa, a son of William and Elsie Willers Nothdorf. He graduated from Davenport Central High School in 1948, where he was active in the band, R.O.T.C. and the Service Club. Mr. Nothdorf was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was selected for duty in Washington D.C., where he was a member of the Ceremonial Guard. He served in the Navy from 1951 to 1953 and was Honorably Discharged as a 3rd Class Petty Officer. Roger married Peg Kurtz on September 26, 1953 in Rock Island. He was employed as an engineering designer and drafting supervisor for the Litton Corp., Instrument and Life Support Division. He retired in 1992, after 39 years of service.

Roger was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Rock Island and the Bendix Litton Retirees. He was past president, secretary and treasurer of Rock Island Girls Softball, was a former coach and umpire, serving the organization since it was started. Roger was a life member of the Rock Island Evening Lions Club, serving as secretary for 15 years, treasurer for 11 years and chaired Tuesday Night Bingo for 11 years. He also was president of the Lions Home Association for six years. He was a member of the Rock Island VFW Post 1303 and former member of the Rock Island/Milan Booster Club.

Roger gave his life to volunteering in the Rock Island Girls Softball program and with the Rock Island Public Schools supporting the Rocky basketball banquets, making and designing awards for the players. He also helped his wife in all school frolics and fundraisers. They were a team in itself. Roger was honored by the Illinois High School Association by being named a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was named to the Founders Circle of the Rock Island/Milan Education Foundation for significant contributions and furthering its mission. He extended his hand to any who knocked on his door and needed help.

Roger loved sports, especially his St. Louis Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeyes. He and Peg never missed a Rocky football or basketball game, attending for more than 50 years, until health issues kept him away. He treasured his trip to Springfield with Joel Brunsvold, something he always talked about.

Survivors include his wife, Peg; daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy L. and Roger Courtney, Brunswick, Ohio and Deborah A. and Bill Boswell, Wentzville, Mo.; grandchildren, Roger and Lloyd Courtney of Brunswick and Matthew, Bradley, Amanda and Ashley Boswell of Wentzville; a brother and sister-in-law, Roland and Ellen Nothdorf, Des Moines, Iowa; and nephews Mike and Randy Nothdorf. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ronald; and sister, Janice.

This obituary was originally available at www.wheelanpressly.com.

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