Walter W. Rogers

Walt was born on March 19, 1960 to Elmer and Leah Rogers in a farmhouse near Hamilton in Caldwell County, Missouri. Walt liked telling people that you can still see the house from 36 Highway as long as you know where you’re looking.

Walt grew up in Clarksdale, Missouri where he made countless memories and lifelong friends. Being part of nearby Maysville High School’s Class of 1978 was one of the great joys of his life.

Walt graduated from Missouri Western State College in 1982 where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Many of the friends he made through Lambda Chi were by his side until his final days.

During summers in college, Walt ran cattle for his Uncle Stan and played softball in southern Idaho where (you guessed it) he made all the friends he could find in the high desert. Several of those friends made the journey to see him in Missouri after he got sick. Walt’s return trips to the desert as an adult were always a highlight for him.

After college, Walt worked for a national chemical company that shall remain unnamed. He took to it quickly and became one of the company’s brightest young “soapers”. Ten years later, Walt went to work for Frank Accurso at Prime Market Services to whom he was forever grateful for giving him a chance when he needed one most.

In February 2000, Walt, along with his brother Alan and dear friend Ron Miller, started what is now Prime Chemical Solutions out of Ron’s one-car garage in Platte City. They worked their butts off and turned Prime into Kansas City’s premier independent provider of commercial ware wash, laundry and housekeeping solutions. Prime grew to serve hundreds of businesses across the region including restaurants, hotels and nursing homes. Walt had been looking forward to next February when he would have celebrated Prime’s 25th anniversary along with Alan, Ron, Prime’s 20+ employees and its many customers, each of whom Walt deeply valued and for whom he would have done anything.

Walt was an avid sports fan and a savvy gambler. He especially enjoyed watching his three favorite teams: the Missouri Tigers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and whichever team he had heavy action on at that particular moment. What Walt enjoyed the most about watching sports was watching sports with friends and drinking a cold Busch Light, especially if he thought the beer was reasonably priced (which was rare).

Walt is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Anne, who lovingly cared for him during his eighteen-month battle with cancer. After more than two decades worth of adventures together with her, Walt’s great pleasure over the last ten years was spending time with Anne and various friends and family at their place at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Walt is also survived by his mother Leah Lehmann Rogers Fisher, his two sons Wes and Will, their wives, and their six kids along with his sister Volan Cockriel (Alan), brothers Alan (Doug) and Lindn, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father Elmer Junior Rogers and his uncle Stanley Lehmann.

Lastly, thank you to the hospice nurses who treated him with so much kindness and became his final group of forever friends.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm on November 8, 2024 at White Chapel Funeral Home at 6600 NE Antioch Road Gladstone, MO 64119 with a funeral service to follow immediately afterward at 3:30 pm. There will be a Celebration of Life from 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm at the Austin Event Space at 1720 Cherry Street Kansas City, MO 64108.

His family would love to see you at any of the events that you are able to attend. As far as a dress code, come as you are. Walt wouldn’t have it any other way. There will be plenty of opportunities to tell stories if you’re so inclined, and the beer will be free, Walt’s favorite price.

If you would like to honor Walt’s memory, in lieu of flowers, please send contributions in his honor to the Johnny Boy Foundation (https://www.johnnyboy-foundation.org/how-your-donations-help).