John Albert Rogers, 89, of Paducah, completed his baptismal journey at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Saturday, October 28, 2023. A Paducah native, John attended and graduated from St. Paul Lutheran School, Adah Brazelton Junior High School, and Augusta Tilghman High School prior to earning an Associate’s Degree in Business from LaSalle Extension University in Chicago, Illinois and a Master’s Degree in Arts and Religion from Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee. He also completed a program of alternative study in Cumberland Presbyterian Theology, History and Polity at Memphis Theological Seminary.
He was employed with Illinois Central Railroad from 1952-1990.
After retirement from the railroad, he served as an Associate in Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a church administrator at Ascension Lutheran in Memphis, and Trinity Lutheran in Lilburn, Georgia. He then served as an interim minister at Christ Lutheran in Cullman, Alabama, St. Paul Lutheran in Altamont, Illinois, St. John Lutheran, St. Stephens Lutheran, St. Paul Lutheran in Metropolis, Illinois, Prince of Peace Lutheran in Mount Vernon, Illinois, Immanuel Lutheran in Cairo, Illinois, and St. Matthew Lutheran in Paducah. He also served as supply minister in several other churches. He was ordained as a Cumberland Presbyterian Minister in 2017.
He proudly served in the Kentucky National Guard from 1950 to 1960 as a Staff Sargent E-6. He also graduated engineer school during this time at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
He was a member of and past Master, past Treasurer and Grand Lodge Senior Ritualist at Paducah Lodge #127 F & AM and a member of Plain City Lodge #449 F & AM in Paducah. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, York Rite of Freemasonry, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Rizpah Temple, and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
He also composed Computers in the Macro Church which is housed at Pitts Library, Candler School of Theology, and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
He also recorded a video entitled History of Illinois Central Paducah Shops 1927-1986 which is housed at the McCracken County Public Library.
John is survived by one daughter Angela Jane Rogers of Paducah; a daughter by heart, Gwen Watson (David) of Paducah; one sister Angharad “Ann” Futrell of Granite City, Illinois; one brother Lorenzia Rogers of Alabama, and several nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his daughter, Alean Angeline Rhoades Rogers; his second wife LaDonna Jean LaMar Rogers. His parents were Dunbar Hillard Rogers and Rena Mae Covington Rogers.
Funeral services will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday, November 3, 2023 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Rev. Aaron Dawson officiating.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until the service hour of 7:00 PM on Friday, November 3, 2023 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah. Masonic rites will be held at 6:30 PM.
Burial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. John Lutheran Church, 5187 Old Marion Rd, Metropolis, IL 62960.
You may leave a message of sympathy, light a candle of remembrance and share a “Hug from Home” at www.milnerandorr.com.