Janice Matsue Rogers

Janice Matsue Rogers passed away on October 10, 2021 in Fort Collins, Colorado, surrounded by her family and loving caregivers. Jan was born on January 27, 1939 in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Shyoichi Hari and Hazel Tsukiko Nakayama. After graduating from Honolulu’s Roosevelt High School in 1957, Jan moved to Los Angeles, California to attend Woodbury College. In 1959, with secretarial degree in hand, she moved back to Honolulu and worked for a time as secretary to Alfred Preis, the architect best known for designing the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, and Henry J. Kaiser who she greatly admired. Jan was soon swept off her feet by Richard “Dick” William Rogers, a civil engineer who helped design Magic Island Lagoon in Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu. They married in Oakland, California in 1963 and spent many wonderful years traveling the globe and living in exotic locales, including Saigon, Vietnam and Beirut, Lebanon. Their adventures included having three children: Larry, born in Oakland, Laurie born in Honolulu, and Lynette, born in Beirut. The family settled in Petaluma, California in 1975 where Jan worked as a homemaker, supporting her husband and kids in their endeavors, never missing a game, meet or contest.

Jan expressed love through food, and her kids have many wonderful memories of epic parties with her famous 1970s hors d’oeuvres, almost-nightly chocolate chip cookies, weekend picnics while boating at Spring Lake or crabbing at Bodega Bay, and the endless sliced watermelon and snacks she served her kids and their friends poolside.

After Dick died in 1991, Jan moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where she fell in love with the desert and the spiritual energy of the old city. Jan spent her time there as a Sri Sathya Sai Baba devotee, visiting him at his ashram in India numerous times. She also fed the homeless in Santa Fe with her Baba group, making and giving away hundreds of burritos and chocolate chip cookies – a labor of love.

In 2006, she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to be closer to her family, especially her grandkids of whom she was so proud. All who knew Jan will miss her wisdom, spirituality, smile, humor and chocolate chip cookies.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sister Barbara Fukumoto. She is survived by sisters Irene Takeshita (Carl) of Pearl City, Hawaii and Karen Kitamori (Lloyd) of Honolulu, Hawaii; children Larry Rogers (Jennifer) of Petaluma, California, Laurie Rogers (Ray Johnson) of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Lynette Rosenbach (Randy Baca) of Kaysville, Utah; grandchildren Jenna Garver, Joanna Deignan, Tyler Johnson, Kara Hansen, Sami Rosenbach, and Ben Rosenbach; great grandchildren Jax Garver, Willow Deignan, and Kalena Hansen; numerous nieces and nephews; and friends in Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Colorado and India.

The family would like to thank those who cared so lovingly for Jan this past year, especially Leslie, Sarah and Rachel at Turnberry Assisted Living Place, all of whom are angels on earth, special friend Joan who made sure Jan never wanted for anything over the last few months, and Taylor and Kelly from Bristol Hospice who tended to Jan with love and grace.

The family is planning a celebration of Jan’s life in the summer of 2022. In lieu of flowers, please make a beautiful meal for someone you love, or, if you are so inclined, please make a donation in Jan’s honor to your local hospice. We will miss our beautiful mom, sister and friend. Rest in peace, Jan.

Family and friends may visit www.allnuttftcollins.com to share memories or leave a message of condolence for the family.