Roger Wesley Adkins II was born July 30, 1945 in Omaha, NE to Roger Wesley Adkins and Marion Virginia (Howell) Adkins. He died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, February 28th, 2025 at Ogallala Community Hospital.
Roger was raised in Omaha, NE, along with his 2 sisters. They, alongside their 18 first cousins, all grew up in the area as near siblings. He attended Omaha North High School until his family relocated to Alliance, NE. He graduated in 1963 from Alliance High School and in his senior year, Roger was told by his school counselor that “he should just join the Army because he will never amount to anything.” He did go on to serve 7 years in the Army National Guard, including a few of his self proclaimed “lost years”, filled with adventures and good times. When his younger sister, Elaine, was loading up her car getting ready to go off to college, he said he was packing up his bags and going along because his girlfriend, Judi’s, dad would never let him marry her unless he went to school. Roger then married his lifelong love Judith Ann (Chamberlin), on August 18, 1968 in their hometown Alliance. He graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Chadron State College in 1971. He taught vocal music and was the Media Specialist at Genoa Public School for 10 years while he attended the graduate program at UNL, where he received his Masters Degree in Education Administration. Following that, he was working towards his Specialist Degree at UNO, where he proudly said that he finally quit school. He then worked as the Elementary Principal at Genoa until 1990, when he and his family moved to Ogallala, NE. There he was hired as the first Media/Technology Director of ESU #16 and took much pride in building that program. Roger retired after 40 fulfilling years in education in May of 2011.
Roger was a very active member and faithful servant of his church and he always had a song in his heart. He started singing in the choir at Olivet Baptist Church in Omaha as a child. He eventually became the choir director at the First Methodist Church in Genoa and at the United Methodist Church in Ogallala. He even frequently sang with the choir at St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Lincoln as a visitor. He loved nothing more than blaring his music and singing along and it was always infectious. Over the years he also participated in multiple men’s bible studies, for a decade he played Peter the disciple in the Last Supper production, and he sang in a Christian quartet, Messengers 4. He found great comfort and strength in his salvation and lived his life for Jesus. The summer of 2011, he and his brother in law Paul went on the trip of a lifetime to Israel and he talked and gave presentations on it for years afterward.
Roger was a friend of many and an enemy of none and was loyal to those he held dear. He lived his life with optimism, generosity, and impeccably timed humor. Nearly every story shared about him involves a joke or prank, how he made everyone feel welcome, and how he always had an extra hand for helping. He adored his family and friends and loved spending time with them, supporting their activities and being present. His most honored roles were that of husband, son, brother, father, Poppie, uncle, and friend. Some of his many other accolades were being a member of professional teachers associations, Lions Club, Kiwanis, CASA, Community Emergency Response Team, Moose Lodge, Cowboy Capital Consultants, Masonic Lodge, Promise Keepers, Brother’s Keeper, Walk to Emmaus, Christian Motorcycle’s Association, Chadron State College Eagle Aire’s, Teammates, Chadron State College ping pong champ (which won him a year’s worth of free hamburgers), and the little old ladies technology education club. In his SPARE time, he enjoyed woodworking, going to funny car races, owning 60+ cars, motorcycle rides, a good shoot ‘em up movie, helping others with projects, flying kites, collecting eagles, shooting pool, and finding his golf ball.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judi, his 2 children JJ Adkins of Ogallala and Amanda (Heath) Smallcomb of Kearney, grandchildren Cooper and Charleigh Smallcomb, sister Elaine (Darrell) Mason of Broken Arrow, OK, sisters in Law Jan Lepard and Sandra Chamberlin and many cherished cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Janet Grosshans, and brothers in law Larry Grosshans and Paul Lepard.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 1:00 pm from the United Methodist in Ogallala with the Rev. Curt Magelky officiating.
Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala has been entrusted with arrangement. Online condolences may be sent by going to www.drauckerfh.com.
Services will be live streamed from www.drauckerfh.com and from methodistchurchogallala.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Ogallala Methodist Church.