Carl Rodgers (Lt. USN Ret.), 72

Carl Rodgers faced immense courage in the face of a terrible neurological disease that slowly robbed him of everything except his dignity and sense of humor. On Aug. 2, 2010, he passed away suddenly and peacefully at home in the arms of his beloved wife and daughter Carla. He is free of his suffering now but we will miss him terribly.

Born March 8, 1938, to William B. Rodgers and Marianne Todd, Carl and his family moved to Wallace in 1951, where he soon became well known for his rakish sense of humor. In 1956 he married the love of his life, Jo Ann Murphy, joined the Navy and together they began their great life adventure.

He served on the USS Valley Forge, USS Yorktown and USS Kitty Hawk, beginning his Navy career as an enlisted sonar man and worked his way through the ranks to Lieutenant. He was proud to be Mustang. After his military retirement he spent more than a decade working for the Idaho Dept. of Corrections.

He was an honorable husband and father who loved his family above all else. He possessed great energy and enthusiasm, enjoying his jobs, carving, woodworking and long-distance cycling as long as he was able.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jo Ann; his daughters, Carla Gentry and Amy Ferguson, both of Post Falls, and his son, Todd Rodgers of Spokane and their spouses, Kevin Gentry, Randy Ferguson and Martha Rodgers whom he considered "bonus" children. He was the proud grandfather of Lauren Petticolas, Chelsea Ferguson, James Gentry, Shannon Humphrey, Lacey Hughes, Joshua Ferguson, and Matt and Sara Rodgers. He was a fun Papa Jake to 13 great-grandchildren and looked forward to welcoming two more soon.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister.

A short memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at the Veterans Memorial, Post Falls Cemetery on Spokane Street. A private family celebration of his life will also be held Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010.

May he have fair winds and following seas to take him to his better place.