Roger James Uhlenhake

Roger James Uhlenhake, 77, of Tempe, passed away Wednesday, December 21, 2005 after a twenty-nine year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. He was born on November 29, 1928 in Lake City, MN to John Peter and Mary Helen (Doughan) Uhlenhake. Roger grew up in Whittemore, IA where he attended Presentation Academy. He married the love of his life, Jeanne Behounek in 1949 where they made their home throughout Iowa and Montana. He worked as a cashier in the banking business and was an Insurance Salesman. He belonged to the Catholic Men's Society and Kiwanis Club. In 1977 he and his wife moved to Tempe, Arizona where they ran a child care service in their home. After raising eight children of their own, their love and commitment to influencing and nurturing young children continued for ten more years. Kind hearted and spiritually grounded in his Catholic faith, Roger was a loving and caring person whom people wanted to be around. His quick wit and contagious sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his beautiful bride Jeanne; son, Craig; daughter, Mary Susan; and granddaughter, Shannon. Thankful for having shared in his life are three daughters, Linda Kortuem of Phoenix, AZ, Dona Jordan of Waterloo, IA, and Julie Mitchell of Chandler, AZ; three sons, James Uhlenhake of Evansdale, IA, Patrick Uhlenhake of Tempe, AZ, and Joseph Uhlenhake of S. Lake Tahoe, CA; sisters, Mary Jane Mulligan of Mankato, MN and Margery Esser, of Pensacola, FL; brothers, John Uhlenhake of Lee's Summit, MO and Donald Uhlenhake of Ft. Collins, CO; 15 grandchildren; 2 step-grand-children; and 5 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 26, 2005 at Messinger Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale, AZ from 6-8 pm with a rosary service starting at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 2121 S. Rural Rd., Tempe, AZ at 10 am with burial to follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1500 E. Baseline Rd. in Mesa.