Roger Allen Krahn of Plainwell, Mich., passed away peacefully on Dec. 21, 2017. Throughout his brave battle with cancer, he was surrounded by his family, including wife of 49 years, Laurie, his children Amy (Tom Hubbard), Kerrie (Aaron Clark), and Kirk (Sarah Birch) as well as his grandchildren Alex Hubbard, Jack Hubbard ‘16 and Max Hubbard, Madison, Cameron and Caleb Krahn and Joel Clark.

Roger was born on July 9, 1946, in Watertown, Wis. He was raised as an only child by his loving parents, Alfred and Helen Rose Krahn, who greeted him in heaven. He had an idyllic childhood in a small Midwest town where everyone knew everyone.

He graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and received his master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

While he was blessed to have two careers-one in higher education as a Dean of Students and another as a consultant in non-profit fundraising-his true loves were his family, playing sports of all sorts, memorabilia from his childhood, and adventurous travel. Even though he and Laurie traveled the globe, his heart always brought him back to their cabin at Lake Louise (Thumb Lake), Mich., where he would read, bike, kayak, hike, sail, and swim. He would be hard to beat at a trivia game while sipping his Sun Drop and listening to the Beatles.

A memorial service was held on Dec. 30, 2017, at First Congregational Church, 345 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo 49007. Memorial contributions may be made in Roger’s name to: Christian Neighbors, 282 12th St., Plainwell, MI 49080, Christianneighbors.org or Hope Lutheran Church, 290, 12th Street, Plainwell, MI 49080, Hopeplainwell.org.