May 4,1955 ~ December 31, 2024
It is with great sadness the family of David Ernest Arthur Rodgers announce his passing on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta at the age of 69 years.
Dave, as he was preferred to be called, was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, the third child born to Arthur and Berniece Rodgers. He was their only son and had two older sisters Donna and Joyce, and then younger sister DaVerne. Although born in Vancouver, the family resided in Surrey, on a ten-acre farm. At age ten, the family moved to North Delta.
There, he attended Annieville Elementary, Delview Jr. High, and North Delta Secondary schools respectively. He was a very good student and he excelled at math and the sciences. He loved history, and had a special and personally invested interest in the First World War. He joined Army cadets in junior high and attended meetings across the Fraser River in New Westminster. He had ambitions to attend military college, post-secondary, or at the very least, enlist early in the armed forces, but several circumstances prevented him from pursuing this career.
During school, Dave met Wendy Williamson-Day, who was a fellow student at North Delta Secondary School, and they dated while they were in high school. He graduated in 1973. Dave and Wendy were wed on August 3, 1974, and resided in Surrey. They welcomed their daughter, Erika Kristine, in March 1976, followed by their son, John David, in March 1979. Their family complete, they moved from Surrey out further in the Fraser Valley to Aldergrove in fall 1980.
While living there over the next ten years, Dave worked as a salesman commuting to New Westminster/Burnaby and even Southwest Vancouver. Being a salesman led to a promotion that required relocation. That is what directed the family to move to Alberta in September 1990. Where they found a place to settle first in Gibbons, a small town north of Edmonton, and then out on the acreage where the family has lived for the last thirty-two and a half years.
Since Dave started working at age sixteen, in his fifty plus years of working, he had pursued several careers, but was most known for having been in sales of industrial insulation and supplies for the largest part of his life.
Dave had many interests and hobbies over his lifetime. Camping, fishing, hunting, gardening, were some. He belonged to the Sturgeon Unity Singers and sang as a member of their choir for many years. He had been a Scouter with Boy Scouts Canada for ten years starting as a Beaver leader for John. He also belonged to the Lions Club for a time in Gibbons.
Dave was a Christian, and wasn’t afraid to say so. Although he was raised with Christian values, he didn’t become a believer himself until in his thirties. He was baptized in 1989, in Bradner Presbyterian Church. When they moved to Alberta, the family became members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Edmonton. Dave was a very active member of the congregation. He has been a longtime member of the choir, the board of managers, and most notably, was ordained as an Elder of the Church in 1998. It was at his suggestion that St. Andrew’s started the long-standing tradition of our annual Irish stew supper, having brought the idea from his previous congregation. He was an excellent cook, having learned from his mother and older sisters, and liked to showcase that for several years as the “church caterer” for various auction dinners, Presbytery suppers, and helping family, friends, or scouting with their catering events. His shoes will be hard to fill and there will be a big hole left by his passing.
Dave had a good sense of humour, and a streak of mischief that led him on some adventures in his youth. He also was very stubborn and you didn’t want to tell him he couldn’t do something because he would do it just to prove you wrong. He was kind and generous and would help anyone who asked him, if he could. He could be stern, and was known to scare local kids into proper behaviour just by giving a fierce look, but his kids knew he was a gentle person at heart. Erika and John gave him the nickname of “The Large and Growly Bear” after reading a children’s story and the name fit his personality perfectly. Dave was also given the moniker of “baby whisperer” because babies and toddlers were fascinated by him and he could stop them from fussing pretty quickly. This was probably a skill he picked up early in life, as he became an Uncle at the age of six. Loads of family were always around growing up.
Dave is survived and will be lovingly missed by his wife of 50 years Wendy; his daughter Erika and her husband David Smith; his son John; his sisters Donna Blize and DaVerne (Rob) Wood; numerous nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, cousins, friends; and his loyal, loving dog, Skye.
He is predeceased by his parents Arthur Rodgers and Berniece Rodgers (née Hardy); sister Joyce Pedersen (née Rodgers), and brother in law, H. Wayne Blize.
Although we are sad that he has passed, we are grateful that he is no longer in pain or suffering. He touched so many lives and leaves a big empty space that no one can fill. We have faith that we will see him again as he awaits us to join him in Heaven, with our Heavenly Father. Until then, he will be our guide and watch over us, his family and friends.
The family wishes to express their thanks and gratitude to Dave’s doctors, his personal physician Dr. Odebode, Dr. North and his medical team at the Cross Cancer Institute, especially Nurse Practitioner Sarah. As well as all the loving and caring staff and Dr. Clark at the Mel Morris Hospice in the Edmonton General during Dave’s final days. Thank you to Rebecca and staff at Sturgeon Memorial Funeral Home, for providing support for Dave’s final preparations.
Funeral Service
Saturday, February 22, 2025
at 2 pm
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
8715-118 Avenue
Edmonton
Funeral luncheon to follow in the church lower hall
