Ronald Dean Roggy

Ronald Dean Roggy was born on February 6, 1935, in Grand Island Nebraska to Bernard and Laverne (Mapes) Roggy. Ron spent most of his childhood in the Grand Island area. Some his fondest memories are spending time with grandparents on their farm in Phillips Nebraska. It was there he learned about the value of hard work, a trait that would shape the rest of his life and those of his children. Ron and Jody had four children.

Ron went to school with the girl who would later become his wife, Joanne (Jody) Linton. Stories tell of him riding his bicycle past her house as early as 7th grade, trying to get her to notice him. He must have been an awesome bike rider because it worked. The two dated all through high school and married right after high school. They were married for 67 years until her passing. Together, they built a beautiful life. After a standout career as an athlete in high school, he went on to play football at Kearney State Teachers’ college. Here he earned a teaching degree and solidified his desire to impact young lives through teaching and coaching. Upon graduation, Ron and Jody moved to Pueblo Colorado where he worked at Pueblo Central and Pueblo East High School as a Language Arts and Physical Education Teacher and coached football and track. During his time in Pueblo, he built a reputation as a strong teacher and a tough coach, many times experiencing success at conference and state levels. Ron also worked to further his own education and earned an administrative license. He moved the family to Sterling Colorado to become the Assistant Principal at Sterling High School. The opportunity to coach presented itself and Ron moved from Sterling to Greeley Colorado where he was the head football coach and Language Arts Teacher at Greeley Central High School. During his time as a coach here he saw many successes but one of his most memorable was being named to Head Coach of the All-State Football game where he led his team to victory. Even more special was the time he got spend coaching both of his sons and grandsons in football. Ron moved from coaching to administration again and became the assistant principal at Greeley Central High School. He spent several years honing his craft until he was named as Principal of Greeley West High School in the middle of a school year. He was a successful administrator and built a collaborative culture for the staff and students. Ron worked at Greeley West until both of his girls graduated and then moved to the Central Office in Greeley where he finally retired.

Being an educator, Ron impacted many lives. It was the standing joke in the family that even on family vacations or trips, in the US or outside, Ron knew someone. Invariably, the familiar, “Mr Roggy, is that you?” would be heard and the family would get to meet a person who Ron either taught, coached or somehow otherwise impacted. The four kids knew early on that Dad’s “kids” were not only the four of them. He loved the kids he worked with as well. However, he was a major force in the lives of each of his four children. He loved his family and it showed in everything he did to support their activities and interests. His values of hard work, honesty and perseverance were traits they all inherited.

While Ron had a very successful professional career, he also enjoyed his free time. He and Jody travelled the world, going on many foreign vacations and adventures. If he was not travelling, he was fishing. An avid fisherman does not quite describe his love of the sport. Ron knew the fishing conditions of every lake in the area, which bait would best serve that particular area, and even tied his own flies. Spending quality time and inspiring every one of his kids, sons-in-laws, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren to love fishing was important to him. Ron had a deep, personal faith and was inspired by God’s beauty in the nature that surrounded him.

Ron is survived by his four children Mark (Robyn) Roggy, Mitch (Stef) Roggy, Jana (Glenn) Frieler and Jone (Billy) Pierce, 7 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Joanne, grandsons Tyler and Bryan.

A Celebration of Life is planned for May 26 at 2:00 pm at Greeley West High School Auditorium. A scholarship for aspiring educators is being established in Ron’s name and contributions can be made to the Roggy Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Macy Allnutt Funeral Home.