Roger A Ward (1941 - 2015)

Born 16 Oct 1941 in Kokomo, Indiana, United States

Died 6 Feb 2015 at age 73 in Lewiston, Idaho, United States

Biography

Obituary

Roger Allen Ward, 73, of Kamiah, passed away Friday Feb. 6, 2015, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston.

Roger was born Oct. 16, 1941, to Oscar and Naomi in Kokomo, Ind.

His passion for fishing began at a young age and his desire to move West. He wanted to be near the mountains and forest. After graduating from Kokomo High School in 1959, he went on to Purdue University. He graduated college with a degree in forestry. He moved to Philipsburg, Mont., and worked as a forester.

Roger's desire to serve his country overrode his dreams of the West. He joined the U.S. Navy and attended U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School. Roger served his country as a lieutenant on the USS Bon Homme Richard in Vietnam. Following his service to our country, Roger returned to the forest that he dreamed about. He went to Elk City as a forester for the U.S. Forest Service. Roger was transferred to Priest Lake, Idaho, where the fishing was much better.

He heard rumors of a great fisherman and wanted to meet him. Little did he know that he would fall in love with the man's daughter, Kathryn Bierman. Kathy and Roger were married Feb. 5, 1972, in Spokane. It wasn't long before their family started to grow. Their first child, Rob, was born Dec. 13, 1974. Roger was a member of The Society of American Foresters. While on a study tour with them, he was able to tour New Zealand and Australia. Fortunately, Kathy and Rob were able to meet him in Australia. While working full time, raising a family and fishing, Roger managed to continue his education. He received his master's degree in silviculture from the University of Idaho. Roger transferred to the Kamiah office, and the Ward family made Kamiah their home. Ashley joined the family Jan. 31, 1988. He worked at the Kamiah office for several years before transferring to the Grangeville office, where he retired in 1998.

After retirement, Roger stayed busy. He was a master at Dutch oven cooking. He enjoyed cooking for others and teaching classes with his son. Roger was a fourth-degree black belt in Goju Shorie karate and attended Ron Reed's School of Karate. He loved to fish, camp, hunt with his wife and float the river with his family and friends. He was known to sharpen your knife when he stopped by. He liked to watch NASCAR and football, smoke fish and was a fine woodworker. Roger was a friend to all who knew him. He is loved and will be missed.

Roger was preceded in death by his father, Oscar Ward; mother Naomi Rodgers and stepfather Sam Rodgers; and sister Jane Oaks.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Ward of Kamiah; daughter Ashley (Andy) Pigott of Coeur d'Alene; son Rob (Sherri) of Priest Lake; grandsons Frankie, Everett and Fredrick; a sister, Sandra Rupright; brother Samuel Rodgers; brother-in-law Jim Oaks; and nephews Chip Clester, Patrick Clester, Daniel Thornton and David Thornton.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church. The rosary will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's.

Funeral Mass will be 2:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Kamiah. Following Mass, a meal will be provided by the Altar Society at the church. Interment will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Priest River.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kamiah EMTs, Kamiah Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5407 or National Museum of Forest Service History in Missoula, Mont.

Arrangements are entrusted to Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia. ^[1]

News Story

WINCHESTER, ID -- A Friday morning fishing trip turned deadly for two men from the Kamiah area on Winchester Lake.

According to Lewis County Sheriff Brian Brokop, the sheriff's office got a call just before 11:30 a.m. Friday that someone had fallen through the ice at Winchester Lake.

Sheriff Brokop said as more information came in, it became apparent more ice rescue equipment was needed and that there was also a second person who had fallen through the ice.

A number of crews from several agencies responded, including the Winchester QRU, Lewis County Sheriff, rangers from Winchester State Park, Winchester Rural Fire District, a Nez Perce tribal officer, Nezperce Ambulance, Lewiston Fire Department with ice rescue equipment, St. Mary’s Hospital ambulance, Nez Perce County Search and Rescue, Lewis County Search and Rescue, Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, two Idaho State Police troopers, two Lewiston Fire Department ambulances as well two Life Flight helicopters.

79-year-old David Kries and 73-year-old Roger Ward were both flown to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston where they both died from hypothermia.

Sheriff Brokop reported that according to Roger Ward’s wife, they had both been ice fishing at Winchester Lake on Monday and had no problems.

Thursday, state park offiicals had posted on Facebook that the ice was down to two to four inches with standing water on top, but that sections along the north side remained open.

“I knew both of these men and they were avid fishermen,” said Sheriff Brokop. “This is a tragedy and our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the wives and families. The ice was so thin it was almost transparent and the thin ice made rescue efforts extremely difficult. The men fell through out in the center of the lake. The ice may have been okay a few days ago but the quick change with warmer weather made it extremely dangerous," said Brokop.

The sheriff is asking for everyone to stay off the ice on the lake.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ http://lmtribune.com/obituaries/roger-a-ward/article_146ab5a1-a8f7-59de-88c7-3c96c7e7e098.html
2. ↑ KLEW News http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/Two-Men-Die-After-Falling-Through-the-Ice-at-Winchester-Lake-Friday-291156211.html