Earl M. Rogers

1938 - 2015

Earl M. Rogers, 77

Earl M. Rogers, 77, died July 15, 2015 at home from pancreatic cancer. Respecting his wishes no services are planned. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Iowa City Hospice.

Earl Marvin Rogers was born May 2, 1938 in Moline, IL, son of Earl L. Martin and Sophia J. Reynolds. He was later adopted by his stepfather Frank Rogers. Earl spent his early years on his grandparents' farm in Muscatine County and attended a one room school. He graduated from Rock Island, IL High School and Iowa State University, and did graduate work in history at the Univ. of Wisconsin.

Earl worked for the Agricultural History Branch of the USDA in Washington D.C. and then moved to California where he worked for the Agricultural History Center at the Univ. of Calif. at Davis. He was the compiler of many bibliographies on agricultural history. After receiving his library science degree from the Univ. of Calif., Berkeley, he went to work at the Univ. of Utah Library.

On August 31, 1968 he married Susan Huxtable in Salt Lake City. In 1970 they moved to Iowa City where Earl became editor of the Henry A. Wallace papers in the Special Collections Dept. of the Univ. of Iowa Library. On completion of the Wallace project, Earl became University Archivist until his retirement in 1998.

In retirement his passions were travel and birding, visiting many parts of the world. He also loved reading, especially history, travel, and academic mysteries. A lifelong learner he enjoyed Senior College classes and volunteered for the VNA.

He is survived by his wife Susan and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Howard Huxtable. The family would like to thank Iowa City Hospice, Dr. Feeley and the staff of Cancer Care of Iowa City, and Dr. Silverman at UI Hospitals.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com