Roger J. Sharp

Roger J. Sharp, age 96, of Linden, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2024. Roger was born Sept. 11, 1927 to parents Claude and Helen (Conklin) Sharp, both now deceased.

Roger was a farmer for his whole life. He grew up on the family farm in Deerfield Township, MI, and continued to live there throughout his life. In his younger years, he helped his father with the dairy cattle, field work, and other farm animals. He was an officer in the FFA at school. He later transitioned the farm to beef cattle, and then just crops, mostly soy beans and corn. In his second career, while maintaining the farm, Roger joined a number of his relatives in working for General Motors. Roger enjoyed his work as a Test Driver at the GM Proving Ground in Milford, MI, and retired from GM in 1986 after 30 years of driving. 

Roger loved baseball. He played on the winning Hartland High School team as a pitcher, and also in the local farmers league, early in life. He was a big fan of the Detroit Tigers, and enjoyed traveling to ball fields around the country, and also specifically to Florida where he watched spring training games. Roger also loved to play ice hockey with friends and family in his younger years. 

Roger enjoyed and supported his community. Neighbors could always find Roger willing to lend a hand on wide range of things like field work, home or building construction, repairs on farm equipment, and just about anything else. He was well respected and appreciated. He was also an active member of the St. Augustine parish community, helping as an usher for many years. 

Roger was always the beloved uncle for his many nieces, nephews and younger cousins, whom he made feel like they were helping the farm work with a ride on the tractor or combine. 

In addition to his parents, Roger was preceded in death by his sister Marietta Feld and niece Anne LeBlanc Erquiza. He is survived by his sister Ruth Ann LeBlanc, niece Theresa Wilson, and nephews Tom Feld, Patrick LeBlanc, and Paul LeBlanc. 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11AM Saturday, August 31, 2024 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 6481 Faussett Rd., Howell. Fr. Gregg Pleiness and Fr. David Harvey co-celebrants. Burial will follow in St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM Friday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Linden Chapel, 209 E. Broad St., Linden with a Rosary at 7PM. Visitation on Saturday will be from 10AM until the time of Mass at church. Those desiring may make contributions to St. Augustine Catholic Church.