BIEBER, Roger W. 1925-2006

BIEBER, WELLS, SLIFER, JENSEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/12/2015 at 10:36:56

Roger W. Bieber, 80, of Reinbeck, Iowa, died Tuesday, September 26, 2006, at Parkview Manor in Reinbeck, Iowa.

Roger was born December 30, 1925, at home in Reinbeck, the son of Elias P. and Zora Ione (Wells) Bieber. Roger was raised and educated in Reinbeck, graduating from Reinbeck High School in 1943. After graduating from high school, Roger enlisted in the United States Air Force to train as a fighter pilot during WWII. In 1946, he was honorably discharged and began working at the John Deere Foundry in Waterloo On October 15, 1948, Roger was united in marriage to Delores Ione Slifer in Grundy Center. In 1950, he re-enlisted in the Air Force, being stationed in Michigan twice, Guam, Nebraska, Iowa, Montana, England, and Colorado. During his military service, Roger served his country during WWII, the Korean Conflict as well as the Vietnam War. He was a crew chief, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant, overseeing inspections of airplanes. Roger was also a member the SAC-Strategic Air Command, helping with the development of the B-52 Bomber. In 1976, while stationed in Colorado, Roger retired from active duty with the United States Air Force. Roger's wife Delores died in 1978 and Roger continued making Colorado Springs his home. Roger worked for the airport in Colorado for a few years, performing maintenance on the airplanes. On September 10, 1982, Roger was united in marriage to Lorna Jensen in Colorado Springs. Following their marriage, Roger and Lorna moved back to Reinbeck to make their home. Roger was a member of the Reinbeck American Legion Action Post #242; a fifty-year member of the Masonic Temple Coin Lodge #394; the QBee's; and had also been a member of the Isaac Walton League and the Experimental Aircraft Association. Roger loved to golf and he loved to build model airplanes. He also loved flying airplanes.

He is survived by his wife Lorna Bieber of Reinbeck; one daughter Shirley Loser and her husband Arthur of Chillicothe, Illinois; one son Thomas Bieber and his wife Penny of Weston, Colorado; one step-daughter Jeanie Larson and her husband Ron of Reinbeck; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one sister Rachel Hanisch of Waterloo, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Delores; one son Robert Bieber; and one sister Ruth Bieber in infancy.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)