ROGER JOHN DEVER

DEVER, ROGER JOHN - of Ocean View in Dennis Township died peacefully in his home with his family at his side, on January 31, 2013. Roger was born December 27, 1916 in Sea Isle City, NJ. and grew up on 43rd street in Sea Isle along with 5 brothers and 3 sisters, his mother Ida and father Edward. Roger was a graduate of Ocean City High school. During and after high school, he worked for his father along with others in the family business at Edward H. Dever and Sons Boatyard on Venetian Road. Growing up on the island of Sea Isle, and being the son of a boat builder, much of his time was spent either working at the boatyard or fishing, and duck hunting in the back bays and waterways of Sea Isle. Roger, along with three other brothers, volunteered and served in WWII. Roger served two years in the African and European Theatre as a Bombardier of the 441st Squadron, 320th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. He flew on 58 combat missions and received various medals including 6 Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross. All the brothers came home and went back to work at the family business. Roger and his brothers took over the business when their father Edward died, and continued the business as Dever's Marina on the 42nd St canal, and Venetian Rd, until they sold the business in 1979. Roger took care of his mother Ida until she died in 1964, and in 1965 married his lovely wife Jane Neptune of Sea Isle City, and they had two children that they raised well in Sea Isle. Roger moved his family to Ocean View in 1979, and retired from the boat business in the late 1980's. Roger was well loved by all the Sea Isle Dever family and many, many friends. Roger was also a volunteer fireman in Sea Isle, an active member of St Joseph's Catholic Church, as well as a member of the Knight of Columbus. Roger was a true gentleman, trusted friend, great husband, wonderful father and a humble and faithful man of God. Roger's recently deceased brother, Monsignor Daniel J. Dever always reminded Roger, during weekly phone calls from Hawaii that "The best is yet to come," and Roger is experiencing that now in the divine love of our Lord in Heaven. Roger is survived by his son Christopher and daughter-in-law Anne of Ocean View, his daughter Jennifer and granddaughter Kaleigh of Chestertown, Maryland, his brother Francis and sister-in-law Cecelia, of Seaville, his sister-in-law Mary Dever of Sea Isle, a brother-in-law Andrew Sannino of Williamstown, NJ, and his sister-in-law Josephine Neptune of Pitman, NJ, and many nephews and nieces and friends and many care givers from Synergy Home Care and Holy Redeemer Home and Hospice Care, whom he loved. An evening viewing will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm, at the Godfrey Funeral Home of Palermo, 644 South Shore Road, Palermo, NJ on Monday, February 4th. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 am, Tuesday, February 5th, at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Sea Isle City, NJ, following a church viewing from 9 am to 10 am. Burial to follow mass in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Goshen, NJ. To email condolences, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com