Christopher M. Rogers PhD

Rogers, Christopher M., PhD Chris, 62, passed away of natural causes at his home in Wichita, KS on October 8, 2018. Chris was the beloved son of Julian and Marliss (Coursin) Rogers and beloved brother of Janet Rogers, Paul Rogers, Deidre (Rogers) and John Anheuser, Carla Rogers, Gregg Rogers and Aileen Rogers. He had four nieces and nephews and four great nieces and nephews; numerous aunts, uncles, and many cousins. Always exploring nature and science as a young boy, Chris became renowned in the field of ornithology world-wide, and was dedicated to research and teaching in biology, ecology, zoology and environmental science. Lover of nature, he was a true champion of the trout stream. His skill and expertise in fly-fishing was remarkable, matched by few. He was a talented basketball player, and loved cycling and hiking. His love of streams and rivers, and the field study of birds, were the driving forces in his life. One of his favorite quotes was from English poet William Wordsworth, who wrote: "Mother Nature Never Did Betray the Heart That Loved Her." His many academic achievements include population studies of birds in the field, including trips to the Amazon basin and Belize, resulting in numerous scientific publications. His education and academic career began at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a BS in Zoology, continued at Michigan State University with an MS in Zoology, and then a PhD in Biology in 1988 from Indiana University Bloomington. He was a postdoctoral researcher in ecology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada and the Pacific Northwest Research Station in Juneau, AK; assistant professor in biology at the University of Iowa and Grinnell College; and professor of biological sciences at Wichita State University for the past 16 years, where he was also devoted to the teaching, research and conservation mission of the WSU biological sciences field station on the Ninnescah Reserve. Chris will be missed deeply by his family, friends and colleagues. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 AM, Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at St. Peter's Church, 1802 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington, WI 53074. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Washington. Visitation 10 - 11:30 AM Tuesday prior to services at church. Memorials to the UWM Field Station Memorial Fund. Please send care of: "Memorial gift to Dr. Christopher Rogers Cedarburg Bog Plank Memorial" (by mail: UWM Office for Development, 3271 N. Lake Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53211 or by phone: Tom Bjornstad, Director of Annual Giving at 414-229-3298). POOLE FUNERAL HOME/Crematory, Port Washington, WI assisting the family. Information and condolences at www.poolefh.com or 262/284-4431.