Roger Waller
March 26, 1932 ~ October 8, 2014
Roger R. Waller age 82 of Nashua, Iowa died Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2014, at St. John Lutheran Church, Nashua with Pastor Bill Nielsen presiding.
Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nashua with Zachary Zenk, Tammy Warnell, Benjamin Baskerville, Bryant Baskerville, Bradley Waller, Blaise Waller, Buchannan Waller, and Brooklyn Waller serving as pallbearers.
Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2014, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home – Olson Chapel in Nashua. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed towards St. John Lutheran Church in Nashua.
Roger Ray Waller was born March 26, 1932, in Cresco, IA, the son of Earl and Alice (Dinger) Waller. He graduated from Cresco High School in 1950. Roger attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette for one year. He then transferred to Iowa State University where he spent six years, earning his Doctorate in Veterinarian Medicine. During college Roger was introduced to Beth Larson and the couple were married June 10, 1956, at Faith Lutheran Church in Harcourt, IA. To this union three children were born.
After graduation, Roger and Beth moved to Nashua where Roger became partners with Dr. Nelson at the Nashua Veterinarian Clinic. Roger was very passionate about his career and enjoyed the time spent working with animals. Roger practiced in Nashua for over forty years until his retirement.
Roger was a family man and this meant, family always came first. He was always helping others and ready to lend a helping hand. He had many interests that include; golfing, hunting, woodworking, winemaking, and photography. Roger loved to go on walks with Beth, traveling south to Arizona for the winter, and taking annual family vacations to Lake Miltona in Minnesota.
Roger was a member of the Iowa Veterinarian Medical Association, The American Veterinarian Medical Association, and a charter member of the Chickasaw County Board of Health. He served on the Nashua City Council for 12 years, and was a charter member of the Nashua Town & Country Club. Roger was a Nashua Lion’s Club member and an active member of St. John Lutheran Church where he served on the church council as well as many other committees.
Roger is survived by his wife of 58 years, Beth; one son, Dr. Roger (Tracy) Waller of Maquoketa, IA; two daughters, Cynthia (Dr. David) Zenk of Cedar Rapids, IA, Cheri Lyn Baskerville of Dunkerton, IA; eight grandchildren, Zachary Zenk, Tammy Warnell, Benjamin Baskerville, Bryant Baskerville, Bradley Waller, Blaise Waller, Buchannan Waller, and Brooklyn Waller. Two sisters, Gladys (Lowell) Sovereign of Cresco, IA, Gayle (Saint) Freeburg of Scottsdale, AZ; cousin raised as a sister, Mary Lou Markham of Nashville, TN.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Russell Waller.
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Beth, I am so very sorry to hear of Doc’s passing. R-1 was a wonderful man and will be dearly missed. As i reflect back to the time of growing up a block from the Wallers, the time Roger spent with us kids in the neighborhood is truly treasured memories, The kindness the whole Waller family showed both my brother and myself was a testemony to the kind of people the Waller family was. I look back with nothing but gratitude for all the kindness Doc showed me. He led a rich life and we should all be as lucky to achieve half the fullness of Doc’s life. I will always have nothing but fond memories of him and he will be missed by many. I’m glad God shared him in my life.
Cindy, I’m so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Beryl and Jan Biekert
When I came home from college one year my mother asked me to take our old beloved cat (age 19) to Dr. Waller. It was obvious that she was in heart failure and quite sick. My younger brother Scott rode along. When Dr. Waller saw our young hopeful faces and our miserable old cat, struggling to breathe, he looked very sad. He softly remarked that she was very old. He knew right away what the problem was; but he wasn’t able to fix it. He gently explained that If he were a Park Avenue vet he would have the resources to try to treat her, but alas we would have to put her down. This we did; and I will always be grateful to Dr. Waller for his kindness, skill and compassion. Linda Hamilton Turner
As a young girl I traveled to Dr. Waller’s veterinary office with my mother to have one of our pets treated. The care and compassion he showed in his work was very evident. This visit was just a small part of building my path toward my current career and passion veterinary medicine. Many years later I had the privilege to purchase his clinic in Nashua at his retirement. His clients loved him for the person he was and the devotion he had for his work. Many stories have been shared of his work. I know when I leave this earth to greet my my father in heaven that I hope I could have made a small difference for someone so that it affects their life in a positive way. Dr. Waller did that for me. Dr. Phyllis Frost
Eunice and family: I have so many great memories of time spent in Nashua as a young boy and have been reflecting since mom called me with the sad news. I remember great times being with him as he practiced veterinary medicine in Nashua. I remember that on one of your visits to our family farm Roger spent an afternoon mowing the fields on the tractor and having such a wonderful time doing this. You and Roger had such a huge impact on my life as I have shared many times with friends–including at some of my kids wedding receptions. You set such a great example of a loving family, and Roger was someone I wanted to emulate. In reading some of the other posted tributes, it is obvious that he had the same effect on everyone he associated with throughout his life. The person I saw was who he was to everyone and who I hoped to be like someday. He definitely influenced me to become a veterinarian; but I also hoped to be the same kind of husband, father, and grandfather that he obviously was for his entire life. Needless to say our family was richer due to your influence in my formative years, and I can only say thank you. I am so glad I got to speak to Roger several weeks ago, and am sorry I can’t be there for his services and celebration of his life. Blessings to you and your family. We are thinking of all of you and keeping you in our prayers. Also–Mom sends her blessings as well. Love, Dennis and Pat Schwarzentraub
So sorry for your loss…My thoughts and prayers to you all….Ellen (DePuew) Goosby
To all of Roger’s Family, so sorry to read about Roger’s passing. I have a lot of memories of his visits to the farm I grew up on to take care of our animals. He was an outstanding Veterinarian who genuinely cared about his work and giving the best possible care that he could. We were lucky to have him and thankful that he wanted to stay in Nashua. God bless all of his Family during this time of sorrow. Roger Peterson….Son of Roger and Martha Peterson Florida
Cindy and family accept my deepest sympathy for your loss. Rose Beatty Otters
Deepest sympathy to your family. He was an amazing vet.
Beth and family, Our sympathy to you at this time. Roger was such a kind man, and guided us well when we first started raising pork. The best part of life is now his, with the Lord in paradise! Gene and Sherri Nieman
Beth & family, Roger was the best boss ever – he treated us like family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Cathy
Roger, Tracy and family…You have our deepest sympathy. We are very sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers to all of you. Doc was always smiling and a little chuckle. He was so passionate about his ‘patients.’ He was a great model for husband, with his walks with Beth, and father: attended his children’s activities and was committed to our little Nashua community. I have many memories of Doc and he touched my life in a positive way. I hope he is petting all those ‘patients’ at the Rainbow bridge that he loved so much. May God heal your hearts and cherish your wonderful memories.
Beth Waller and family. How blessed we have been to have this man touch our lives. A loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Animal Doctor, and friend. Take Peace, Roger is with his Lord in Paradise! With comfort and prayers. Dr. Bob Smith DDS Grand River, Iowa
Dear Beth and family. So sorry for your loss. Roger was an amazing boss, well loved veterinarian and an even better friend….. He will be missed ny many.
My thoughts and prayers to the Waller family.
Thoughts and prayers are with the family. So sorry for your loss. May GOD give you comfort.
Great Man and Doc. So Sorry To Hear. Our Thoughts, Prayers and Sympathies the Waller family.
I might have only met Roger in early January but he sure made an impact on me and my life. I loved taking care of him and spending time with him. He loved to watch Iowa State Basketball, I remembered how he loved to always wear his Iowa State shirts during those games, I even went and bought a shirt just to wear during a game we watched together.
Dear Mrs. Waller, I was sorry to read about your husbands passing. May your Lord be your strength through the next days and weeks. My love, Peggy Drake
Dear Beth and family. Sad to read of the passing of Roger. He was so kind and appreciative of others. You all will miss him, surely. We will be unable to attend the celebration of life for him. But you will be in our thoughts and prayers. Myrna and Don.
Very sorry to hear of Roger’s passing. Thoughts and prayers to his family.