Rodger L. Verdieck

Rodger Verdieck, age 83, passed away all too soon.  Quick with a laugh and twinkle in his eye, he will be dearly missed by his family and friends and beloved Sheltie dogs. 

Rodger was born and raised by his parents John and Thelma (Patterson) Verdieck in Portland, Oregon with his sister Claudia.  As a family, they spent time at the Forest Service lookouts watching for wildfires, loved to camp with family friends, took various trips around the country to visit relatives and were active in fellowship with First Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon and American Baptist Camp Arrah Wanna at Welches, Oregon.  

Rodger enjoyed playing trombone in the marching band at Benson Polytechnic High School, graduate class of 1959.  He considered it an honor when he lead the marching band at games and in parades and one year, to drive a car for a Royal Court member in the Portland Rose Parade.   

Rodger met and married Merrily (Allen) and they raised 2 children, Julie and Peter, as he earned his Bachelors degree at Lewis and Clark College, graduate class of 1963.  Rodger excelled in his accounting studies, placing 8th in the State of Oregon and earned his CPA and choice of Accounting Firm offers.  He was delighted to work for Arthur Young in Portland, Oregon.  He then transferred to San Diego, California with a promotion to Manager with the firm.  Later, Rodger became the Controller for the Western US section of Hertz car rental services and moved to San Rafael. Some years later he moved to Novato and subsequently went to work as a Controller for AccountMate, an accounting software company.   Eventually, for his last business adventure, Rodger opened a consulting firm covering the surrounding San Francisco Bay area, continuing this practice until the end.  

Rodger loved and married Sharon (Greenwood) on a sunny day in a romantic ceremony on a ship out on San Francisco Bay in 1997.  They enjoyed a life together of faith, family and friendship in Sebastopol, California. 

A memorial service for Family and Friends will be held on Wednesday, February 12th at 10 a.m. at Hessel Church, 5060 Hessel Ave, Sebastopol, California.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, remembrances in memory of Rodger may be made to your local Shriners Hospital or Animal Rescue Organization. 

We will miss him dearly.  Rodger had a lifelong abiding faith expressed in his love for family and friends, a deep love and compassion for rescue shelter animals and an enduring love of nature and our Country.  Forever in our hearts, Rodger is beloved and survived by his wife, Sharon and a large and loving family. 

In Oregon, Rodger is survived by his sister Claudia, his children Julie and Peter, his grandchildren (Peter’s children) including: Spencer, Steven, James and Kandace; and the great-grandchildren Bryson, Wesley, Ronin, Whitney, Rylee, Jace, Talon and Hurley. 

In California, Rodger is survived by his wife Sharon and her descendants including:  her children Cathie Riggins, Michael Greenwood, Gary Greenwood (deceased) & spouse Tina Greenwood, Kristin Hamwey, Matthew Greenwood and spouse Rayann Greenwood; her grandchildren Nathaniel Reason, Michaella Bailey, Shelby Houston, Kelsey Greenwood, John Greenwood and Ryan Greenwood; and her great-grandchildren Jace Reason, Ryker Greenwood, Knox Bailey and Sloane Bailey.