John "Poppa John" Rogers

1929 - 2022

John Rogers "Poppa John" passed away on March 3, 2022 in Franklin County Hospital surrounded by his loved ones.

John was born on September 23, 1929 to Calvin and Vivian Rogers in Colrian, MA. He married Beatrice Ariel in 1954 and had four children. After divorcing in 1975, he found his soulmate Phyllis and then they where married.

After John graduated from Arms Academy, he went to work for Pratt & Whitney as a machinist while going to barber school at night. After graduating from barber school he decided to start the very first traveling barbershop, which he kept as his passion for the rest of his life.

Then working at GS Precision, he was the first employee to start there. Then, to starting Sno-Valley Service pumping septic tanks and then branching out to the portable toilet business with his sons.

With all, John's true passion was his barbering where he worked until the age of 91, deciding to finally retire and close it on April 23, 2021.

John loved working at his barber shop, but in his spare time he like motorcycles, fishing, hunting, dancing and being apart of society. He was a member of the Moose, Shiners and the Masons.

Any one who knew John was touched by his kindness, his humor and his smile. He was one of a kind.

John is predeceased by his parents, his two brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis Rogers; his daughter Andrea (husband, Don) Gardner, his sons John Douglas (wife, Elaine) Rogers of Vernon, VT, Gerald (wife, Sheila) Rogers of Rockingham, VT, Donald Rogers (Nancy) of Lantana, FL, his step children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and an abundance of friends.

We will miss him more than words can say.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Shriners or to the Moose would be appreciated.

John has donated his body to the University of Massachusetts.