Roger Schonhorst (1958-2019)
SCHONHORST, RACEK, CROFT, RACEK, KALSEM, CHEDDIE, AMBROSON, LAWSON, HICKMAN, LEE, FARNDALE, GRAY
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
Roger Schonhorst
January 15, 1958 - November 15, 2019Roger Schonhorst, age 61 passed peacefully in his sleep into our Heavenly Father’s arms on November 15, 2019.
Visitation will be Friday, November 22 from 5-7pm in the Safe Room, 515 North Main Ave, Huxley, IA. The Safe Room is connected directly to City Hall.
Celebration of Life services will be Saturday, November 23 at 1pm at Grace Evangelical Free Church, 905 N 5th Ave, Huxley, IA 50124 with fellowship immediately after the services. Burial will be at Lincoln Township Cemetery west of Alleman at 3:30pm.
Roger was the most full of life person you ever met. Once he knew you, you were a lifelong friend and he was always willing to help; no matter what the circumstances. Roger was a difference maker!
Raised on a farm north of Alleman, IA, by our loving parents Donald and Mary Anne (Racek) Schonhorst, Roger took on all challenges and opportunities with full gusto! He graduated from North Polk Community High School in Alleman, IA and had earned his pilot’s license before graduation – of which flying was one of the loves of his life. He was very active with the FFA and held various state and national level office & roles as well as hosted student members for the national convention, and continued (to his passing) as an active FFA alumni. For many years he was in charge of the Avenue of Breeds at the Iowa State Fair. He was a member of the youth singing group The Kids Next Door. Roger was also a licensed electrician and master plumber.
For many decades Roger worked in the entertainment industry where he was responsible for contracts and managing production and transportation; working with many well-known entertainers, rock bands, musicians, Formula One Racing, the NFL, and minor and major league baseball (of which he provided services at almost every professional baseball stadium in the country).
Roger previously worked for AECOM, the country’s largest engineering firm where he worked on FEMA contracts to help with grant writing, recovery and rebuild after hurricanes. He received special commendation letters from the US President and the FEMA administrator.
Roger had broad construction technical knowledge of general areas of civil, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and building construction and provided those skills to several companies in Central Iowa.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Mary Anne (Racek) Schonhorst (of whom he cherished very intensely), his grandparents George and Gladys (Croft) Schonhorst and Valentine and Martha (Kalsem) Racek. Surviving him are his eldest sister Mary Carole (Schonhorst) Cheddie (Shri) of Lehigh Acres, FL, younger sister Rosemary (Schonhorst) Ambroson (Greg) of Azle, TX, nephew Nehru Cheddie (Karisa), nieces Ananda (Cheddie) Lawson (Don), and Randa (Ambroson) Hickman (Christopher), an aunt Ruth (Racek) Lee, cousins Nancy (Lee) Farndale (Michael), Phil Lee (Jane), Dan Lee (Lennice), Paul (Jeanne) Lee, Larry Gray (Vicki), John Gray (Janet), Carroll Racek, and a host of other family members and thousands of friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Iowa FFA Foundation, https://donate.iowaffafoundation.org/RogerSchonhorst
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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