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Roger Awsumb Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Roger Awsumb
Alan Berman
March 1, 2024
When I was about 13, I was at a wedding at the Calhoun Beach Hotel, the building where WTCN was. I met Roger Awsumb, who was the announcer. He spent time with me explaining the studio. Great person.
Jim Groat
June 27, 2023
I suddenly had a flashback to my Childhood, growing up in Minneapolis in the 1960s, And watching Casey Jones and Roundhouse Rodney. And how I was ecstatic as Casey, singing his Happy Birthday Song, mentioned my name on the air. Pretty big stuff for an 8 year old. I can still see him in my mind , dressed in long underwear and a fake beard singing "Valking in my Vinter Undvervare " Thank you Casey, for being part of my life. And as he parted, climbing on a caboose, waving and the words "Now leaving on track 11....Alllll Aboard!!"
David Priebe
May 7, 2006
While I loved Axel, Carmen, and Clancy, I still eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because of Casey Jones. Every day during summer vacation I would be home for Lunch with Casey and Roundhouse Rodney. Compare his program with what the kids have today and it's no contest.
Tony Ducklow
November 28, 2005
I know this is very late but I just stumbled upon this page. I can’t imagine what my childhood would have been like without Casey Jones, he was so intrinsically weaved into the fabric of most every Minnesota child’s life from the 1950s to the early 1970s. When I’d hear our town’s noon whistle, that meant one thing. I had to run as fast as I could home or I’d miss Casey walking in the door with the greeting, “Hi kids, it’s your old buddy Casy Jones!” Thanks to the Awsumb family for sharing him with us for so many years.
Derek Barton
May 2, 2005
Roger (Casey) is a very important childhood memory for me. When I was a small child I appeared on his show twice in my own Casey Jones outfit. In the small Minnesotan town where I lived I was know as little Casey. I remember a year or two after visiting Roger at his bike shop. To me he was still Casey Jones.
Rick Kirchner
August 11, 2003
I find it kind of sad that the loss of a person like Casey could linger in our minds for so long! I watch my Grandchildren watching cartoons and there is not one bit of personal relationship between the children and any cartoons any more. In there era of Casey, Roundhouse, Captain Kangaroo, Nurse Carmen, and so many more, in our home we all watched and felt like these people were talking to us individually when they would read off our Birthday announcements. Wasn't necessary to write the Casey Jones Birthday song as we still very well remember it and sing it at family Birthday parties. Bye for now Casey and we'll see ya soon coming into the station again at Gramma Lumpets boarding house!!!!!!
Jim Bjugstad
October 5, 2002
I loved watching Casey and Roundhouse Rodney. I grew up in Rice Lake, Wisconsin and Casey was HUGELY influential for me and my friends. I remember that we all had to have FIGURE SKATES instead of those "sissy" hockey skates, just because that's what Roundhouse had!
And do you remember "Winchester Cathedral" (in the coonskin coat with the megaphone) or how about "Your red scarf matches your eyes",in drag!!!! Hilarious!!! All wonderful memories. God Bless You Casey!
Jim Bjugstad
Laurel (Awsumb) Allen
September 3, 2002
Casey Jones was my uncle. My father was his oldest brother. My brother and I made one appearance on his show which was a real thrill. But to us, he was just Uncle Rog. Our families visited back and forth from California to Minnesota. As many have said, "what you saw was what you got." He was the same on TV as he was in person with the family. We will miss him, but we all hold a special place in our hearts for him. We love you, Uncle Rog!
Brett Leske
September 1, 2002
He was one of my fondest childhood memories as Casey Jones.
Brad Tapper
August 12, 2002
Every now and then I check the internet version of the Star Tribune, I can't help but wonder why I looked today. I was reminicing with my wife just a couple days ago and told her how much my brother and I always loved Casey Jones. I remembered the birthday list and remember watching one day when "Jim Nasium" had a birthday. We could here the guys in the background laughing and Casey was trying to keep a straight face, pretty hilarius. God bless you, Casey. Thanks for the great memories.
Cindy Mazurkiewicz-Shirk
July 25, 2002
So long, Casey... We will miss you. I remember watching "Lunch with Casey" every day while growing up during the 1960's in Farmington. What a treat to see him every day. And hoping my name would appear on the scrolling list during the birthday song... I still remember every word of that song!
James Cassidy
July 23, 2002
ol' buddy, me and my sister will remember you fondly. Thanks for reading my name on TV when I was 5, it was a thrill. I'll never forget when the monkey jumped in the pumpkin pie on your last show. We will always love you and our hearts go out to your family. Thank you.
Little Jimmy
Rebecca Martinson
July 23, 2002
I never sing the regular old Happy Birthday song -- it's always Casey's song, and then I have to explain about the wonderful man I got it from. I'd forgotten about lunch, and the onion song (we often didn't have a TV when I was growing up), but the birthday song lives in my heart, as does Casey. My sympathy goes out to Casey's family, and also, thanks to them for sharing such a wonderful "old buddy" with us.
Jacqueline Cassidy
July 23, 2002
Dear Casey,
You were my Ol'Buddy and a big part of my childhood. I spent many hours having lunch with you. I taped your last show on my cassette tape recorder and cried right along with you at the end. Say hello to Roundhouse and thanks for being such a good friend to me.
Jackie
Helen LaJeunesse
July 22, 2002
Thanks for making my childhood so great. I ran home from school in order to eat lunch with you and Roundhouse. You were the best part of lunch time. I still sing about "winter underwear" when it snows really hard. At some point, we also used to eat breakfast together. I was in heaven (thanks to WTCN).
Thanks for being someone who gave sunshine to my days.
God bless you.
Linda Bates
July 21, 2002
I will never forget my "lunches with Casey". You were a big part of my life. My dad worked for the railroad, so I have had a love of trains for as long as I can remember. Thanks for the memories!
Charlotte & Tom Sacco
July 20, 2002
Our condolences to the friends and family of Roger. Our memories are of Roger, as a special friend to our Aunt Irene and of their visit with us when we lived in Florida. He was great to be with and a special person to know. We thank God for sharing him with us, and even more for sharing him with Aunt Irene.
Our prayers are with him and with those he left behind. Find peace, for surely God is holding Roger in the palm of HIS hand.
joan johnson
July 20, 2002
As an employee of WTCN-TV 11, my husband worked with and knew Casey and Roundhouse. Our kids had the privilege of seeing them on occasions when they went to visit their dad at the tv station or at the employees children's Christmas party and other times. He was a friend. On the day of the last Lunch with Casey show we all made a point of being around the kitchen table with the TV on the kitchen counter and eating our final lunch with Casey. The kids cried, and so did I. If there were more genuinely kind and loving people in the world like Roger Awsumb, the world would be a much better place for all of us. Thanks for enriching our lives.
Stephanie Boone
July 19, 2002
Casey Jones was such a wonderful friend. I always raced home to hear that he was ".......now arriving on Track 11"! I grew up without a dad and it was very good for me to see a man who was kind and cared for kids. He will be missed!
Michael & Theresa Lopez
July 19, 2002
To the Awsumb family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Maureen Valley
July 19, 2002
Casey...I'll never forget meeting you in the Northwest Airlines World Club several years ago. You were as kind and charming in person as you appeared on TV. Thanks for the memories. Maureen Valley, former WC Representative for NWA.
Al Olson
July 18, 2002
In a world where we struggle to find integrity, kindness, wholesomeness, its good to recall men of character like Roger who you'd like to have your grandkids know. They won't, except for what he did for us that we can pass on to them by living out the richness of his example.
God bless his memory.
Sharon Klanchnik
July 18, 2002
Goodbye, Casey, thanks for the memories. You will be dearly missed. Say "hi" to Roundhouse for us.
Steve Nelson
July 18, 2002
Words cannot do justice to the feelings I have in my heart. My sincerest condolences to the family and friends who share this loss.
I'll always remember when he would read the birthday names, and someone would slip in a name like Chuck Wagon or Rusty Pipes, and Casey would start laughing so hard, till he cried.
Seeing him at the personal appearances was the greatest - he and Roundhouse would advertise on the show, a place north of Mpls on Hwy 65 just north of Soderville - I can't remember the name of the place but it had an old west Frontier theme.
Queen Ann Kiddie Land - another place; I begged my parents to take me there, because Casey Jones said it was a lot of fun.
He was (and will continue to be in my heart and memories) a friend that I could share lunch with, even though he didn't know me, it was like he was doing his show just for me.
God bless you "Casey Jones".
Stephen Haley
July 18, 2002
Thank's for all the lunch's Mr.Casey Jone's,now i have no one to share my peanut butter sandwich and chip's with. This 51 old guy will miss you very much. Say hi to Rodney for me because i know you are together again. Please show me where Heaven's track's "11" are so when my time has come we can have lunch again.
Have a great trip,
Stephen Haley
Christina Rogers
July 18, 2002
I am a 2nd Generation Casey Jones fan.
I still remember my pride when my father told me that he and his twin brother were guests on the Casey Jones show when they were ten years old!
At the time I was about 5 years old myself, and watched the show religiously. Until one sad morning when my mother told me that Casey was no longer going to be on TV because he suffered a heart attack. At that time, being my innocent age, I cried asking my mom, "if Casey's heart is broken, then can he still love us little kids?" Needless to say, my mom comforted me that Casey will always be able to love me, and other children.
I still belive that while my whole heart! As I now have a baby of my own, I know that Casey is looking down loving each of us "little" kids!
Thank you Casey for your gift to Minnesota. I will never forget you.
Cindy Lukasavitz
July 18, 2002
I am so glad I had the chance to "grow up" with Casey. It is too bad the kids today do not have a role model like him. He had a good wholesome show! I had the opportunity to meet him at a Pequot Lakes Parade he was in a couple years ago at which time I got to thank him for all the good memories, get a hug, and have my Dad take a video of us together. I also purchased a video Casey had produced about his show and got to have him sign it while visiting at the KLKS radio station near Breezy Point. I enjoyed listening to him on the radio when I visited my parents in Crosslake. Thanks again to our "good old buddy" Casey Jones. My sympathy to the family.
Dan Olson
July 18, 2002
As one of thousands of Minnesota kids who grew up watching Casey and enjoying lunch with him I'd like to add my condolences on your loss. He touched a lot of kids in formative years and I'd like to think I was one of them.
Now leaving on track 11...
Jeanine Brickley
July 17, 2002
Casey was a friend to every child with a TV while I was growing up. We loved the songs and personalities and the animals that they had on the shows. One of the greatest times of my life was meeting Casey at the Foshay Tower where the show was produced. We will truly miss him.
Barb
July 17, 2002
My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Roger Awsumb. He will always be remembered fondly. He was such a hero to me and my brothers when we were kids. I still have my Casey Jones album, which I now play for my kids. I enjoy their laughter as we listen to the wonderful, silly songs and skits. Roger will be missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of many, many people.
PAUL VASTERLING
July 17, 2002
NOW LEAVING ON TRACK 11,BOARD,BOARD,BOARD!!!!!
Jane Herrick
July 17, 2002
I have eight siblings and on birthdays we call each other and sing the Casey Jones Birthday Song to each other (still know all the words). And he taught us how to make chipwiches (peanut butter & jelly with potato chips smashed in them - still pretty yummy). Also can't forget his "Walking in my Winter Underwear" skit/song that so upset all the parents - us kids thought it was just too funny! Thanks so much for being a huge part of my fondest childhood memories.
Susan Kustrich
July 17, 2002
No words can ever express the loss.
But all the memories say it all.
I also had lunch every day as growing up with "Casey Jones" and wish that my grandson had some of those memories. I do have a picture of him at the parade in Mounds Park Boulavard from years ago which is now in a frame. Great memories while growing up with him!!
Terry Watts
July 17, 2002
The good childhood memories I have of your father, grandfather, brother, friend. . .well, many of us spent a lot of time with him as well. Thank you for sharing him with all of us through his tv show!
Donald Cegla
July 17, 2002
A true friend to adults as well as kids.
John Baldy
July 17, 2002
Here goes a truly kind Gentleman, who managed to transform his innate shyness on-screen into a rare sincerity. As a child watching him on television, I really believed he was speaking to me directly, and that he was in fact my very own "old buddy." When he was on it, the television was a window; when he wasn't, it was an appliance.
I'm sorry I never got to thank him for showing so much love and concern for us children.
Steve & Laurie Marsh
July 17, 2002
Roger entered my sister and my life when we were little kids as Casey Jones, the world's greatest guy and celebrity. He had lunch with us every day, and showed us great cartoons such as "Hercules" and "Felix the Cat". Every once in a while, he would throw in a "Roadrunner", which was great.
Lunch with Casey was the greatest show on TV, and Casey was our hero.
Imagine our surprise when Mom told us she went to high school with Casey, and knew him pretty well.
And his real name WASN'T Casey !! Shortly after learning that news, we met Casey at an appearance at Field Schlick in Highland Village. It was a real thrill to meet him, and he really spent a lot of time with us. We were besides ourselves.
Well, as you know, the Awsumbs quickly became regular visitors to our home. One by one, more Awsumbs entered our lives and were frequent guests at the Marsh household. Bobby, you were always Kay's favorite! And John Casey, what an incredible spirit you are. I believe we gave you your first pair of football pants, and I used to LOVE to tackle you ! I might add you are the greatest table hockey player I have ever faced. And your love of Minnesota sports even exceeds ours.
Thank you so much for the years of wonderful and incredible experiences and memories. Not only from Casey Jones, our hero, and Roger Awsumb, our friend. But to all of you Awsumbs who so uniquely and wonderfully touched our lives.
With fond memories and our deepest sympathy,
Steve Marsh and Family, Burtrum MN
Laurie (Marsh) Zaso and Family, Rochester NY
Mike Holmberg
July 17, 2002
I have many fond memories of watching Casey and Roundhouse in my younger years, enjoying their skits, and telling us about all of the different things that kids like us needed to know in order to grow up safe and healthy.
It was special for us that he would take is time to come to come to our cub scout pack blue and gold banquet to entertain and share with us him self and the special ability he had to communicate with kids.
In some ways I wish there would be a special memorial fund put together in his honor to help kids in some way. (Shriners Hospital, Boys and Girls Club for examply)
Thank you for being part of my growing up.
Margaret Overland
July 17, 2002
I just loved Casey Jones. Lunch with Casey was the highlight of my day.
I remember walking over to the neighborhood Baskin Robbins to meet Casey and Roundhouse. It was so exciting.
I also remember eating dinner with my family at an Uncle John's restaurant, when my parents told us to look at the next table and see who was there. It was CASEY! We all started to hop down from our chairs to just rush over to him and our parents stopped us and told us we couldn't just do that. He was having dinner with his family. That was an exciting evening.
We all still sing his Birthday song.
Barbara Lindsholm
July 17, 2002
Casey Jones helped me get thru many a lunch time with my six kids. To this day my middle age kids talk about him. He made some of my days alot easier. What a Guy!!!!!
john stewart
July 17, 2002
Casey is the reason I wanted to work for the railroad. When my
dream came true and I became a
railroad employee, I realized the
best part of railroading was the
people I got to work with. Casey
had a great show,but the best part
was, he was our friend.
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