Roger Duane Gaddis, 26 Jun 1936 - 16 Feb 2023

GADDIS, SCHAEFER

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 3/1/2023 at 14:57:31

Roger Duane Gaddis, 86, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, in Plano, Texas. Roger, son of Merle Gaddis and Helen (Schaefer) Gaddis Heinze, was born on June 26, 1936, in East Amana, Iowa. He grew up bilingual, speaking both German and English because his father's family spoke only English and his mother's family spoke German and English.

Roger attended school in the Amana School District and graduated from Amana High School in 1954. While in high school, he played basketball and baseball. He served briefly in the Iowa National Guard. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1955 and served honorably until January 1957. During his time in the Army, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart Pauline Fink. He was stationed in Germany for most of his service.

He attended the University of Iowa and earned a B.A. in economics in 1960. In 1962 he began his long career with the U.S. Department of the Treasury in the Kansas City area and lived in Overland Park and Merriam, Kan. He transferred to their headquarters in the Washington, D.C. area in 1969 and resided in Bowie, Md. After 33 years with the Department of the Treasury, he retired in 1995. He worked at the Illinois Institute of Technology in D.C. from 1996-2002.

He and his wife Pauline moved to Plano, Texas, to be closer to their daughter and her children in 2002. Roger always had a love for classical music and choral music. He shared his beautiful baritone voice with his family and in multiple choral groups. In the Kansas City area, he was a member of the choir at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Overland Park, Kan. In Bowie, Md., he was a member of the St. Mathew's United Methodist Church choir and the Chesapeake Choral Society. In Plano, Texas, he was a member of the Plano Choral Society.

His grandchildren called him a "Renaissance Man." He had a lifetime love of learningâ€"reading poetry, short stories, mysteries, German books and newspapers and playing guitar and recorder. He enjoyed opera, orchestral music, bluegrass, folk music, ballroom and polka dancing and musical theatre. He traveled throughout North America and Europe. He always maintained substantial flower and vegetable gardens and enjoyed doing home repair and upgrades, even for his kids. He loved sharing stories and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Christmases were always special because he kept his German heritage alive with traditions and foods.

Roger is survived by his sister, Patricia Hergert (Richard) of DeWitt, Iowa; son, Merle Gaddis (Kelly) of Olathe, Kan.; son, Robert Gaddis (Vivian Garcia) of Redondo Beach, Calif.; and daughter, Melissa Toohey (Peter) of Plano, Texas. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Melissa Gaddis (Owen Phillips) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Kristin Gaddis of Overland Park, Kan.; Brendan Toohey (Jessica) of Dallas, Texas; Sofia Toohey of New York City, N.Y.; and Schaefer Toohey of Plano, Texas; his sister-in-law, Gerda Holub; his brother-in-law, Fred Finch (Laura); and nine nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Merle Gaddis; mother, Helen Gaddis Heinze; stepfather, Adolph Heinze; and wife, Pauline Gaddis. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

Memorial celebration will be from 2 to 4 p.m. April 1, in the Woodshed Room at the Ox Yoke Inn in Amana.

Published by The Gazette on Feb. 26, 2023.