NELSON E. ROGOZA

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Nelson Eddy Rogoza, with his family by his side, on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 at the end of his battle with cancer.
Nelson was born July 9, 1940 in Vita, Man., the eldest son of the late John and Katherine Rogoza. At the age of five, Nelson’s family decided to move to Toronto, Ont. On their way, they stopped in Fort Frances, Ont. to visit relatives and decided to stay!
Nelson attended Robert Moore School and Fort Frances High School. After graduating from high school, Nelson enrolled in a summer “Pre-Teacher’s Course” at the Lakehead. In September of 1959, he began his teaching career in North Branch, about 20 miles north of Stratton, where he had a class of 33 student,s including all grades from 1-10.
Following another session of summer school, Nelson married his high school sweetheart, Carol Hinrichs, on Aug. 27, 1960. His teaching assignment was the Grades 1-8 Central School in Alberton, where he had the special privilege of teaching his own brother and sister and brother-in-law.
Following a full year of teachers’ college, Nelson taught at Robert Moore School and worked part-time on his degree, achieving his B.A. in 1969, the same year he assumed the principalship at J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances. He later completed the principal’s course and in 1979 achieved a Masters of Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
While at Walker School, Nelson also had principal responsibilities for other schools such as McIrvine, Alexander Mackenzie, Alberton Central School, and the Lac La Croix elementary and secondary school. In these schools, Nelson felt privileged to work with some outstanding teachers, gifted students, and supportive parents.
Nelson retired from education in 1994 after 35 challenging but enjoyable years.
Besides education, Nelson was an active member of St. George’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, teaching Sunday School from the early 1960s to the early ’80s. He served on the church executive, as president and later as the financial secretary for the past 35 years. He assisted his father, John, who was the cantor and he took over that role when his father was unable because of poor health.
Nelson greatly enjoyed being a member of Walter Andrusco’s church choir and later assumed this responsibility. Serving the Lord, and being with his Ukrainian community, was dear and special to him.
As a resident of the Alberton community where he lived, Nelson served as a member and chairman for 12 years with the Alberton Planning Advisory Committee when it was first initiated. When people asked him what he did in his retirement, his standard answer was that he golfed one day, fished with his family the next day, gardened and did yard work the third day, repeated the three-day cycle, and on the seventh day went to worship the Lord to thank Him for all His blessings!
The cycle did not work as well in the winter time, but he did thoroughly enjoy curling with Paul, Frank, Mel, and Rod.
Nelson was predeceased by his parents, John and Katherine Rogoza; father-in-law, Walter Hinrichs; and infant granddaughter, Ashlee.
Nelson is survived and sadly missed by his loving wife, Carol; children, Nelson Jr. of Fort Frances, Ont., Grant (Renee) of Fort Frances, Ont., and Lindsey (Mellisa) of Atikokan, Ont.; and grandchildren, David, Aaron, Mark, Michael, Daniel, Cassandra, and Reed.
Also surviving are his sister, Joan (Mike) Hughes of Fort Frances, Ont.; brother, Johnny (Daphne) Rogoza of Winnipeg, Man.; brothers-in-law, Ernie (Joan) Hinrichs of Toronto, Ont., Rod (Faith) Hinrichs of Alberton, Ont., and Jerry (Dorothy) Hinrichs of Fort Frances, Ont.; his God-daughter, Melissa Hinrichs of Fort Frances, Ont.; his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Hinrichs of Fort Frances, Ont.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, including uncles and aunts whom he loved and respected.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with prayers offered at 7:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 23, 2009 at 10 a.m. at St. George’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Fort Frances. The Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Oleg Krawchenko will officiate, with interment in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances.
The pallbearers will be Michael Hughes, Rod Hinrichs, Jerry Hinrichs, Aaron Rogoza, Natalie Hughes, and Daniel Rogoza.
The honourary pallbearers will be all of his church family.
Should family and friends so desire, in memorial donations may be made to St. George’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 804 McKenzie Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2B2, the Canadian Cancer Society, P.O. Box 444, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8, or The Salvation Army, 316 Victoria Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2C2 or c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.mem.com.
Be comforted in St Paul’s message to the Thessalonians: “Now I do not want you to have any misgivings about our departed brethren and grieve over them like hopeless unbelievers. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, even so God will raise our departed brethren through Jesus and glorify them with Him.