Roger Stephan Golemb

Roger Golemb is my father, and I am his only son. The photo is of him saluting the American flag during a Desert Storm parade when I was serving in the Gulf. It is the most iconic photo we have of him taken by a newspaper photographer. Roger lived to the ripe old age of 82, and frankly, his family and I are shocked he was able to survive this long. He had three major life-threatening accidents at his home, one in the mid-80s, one mid-90s, and one around 2010, and three medical procedures he recovered from. Roger was by far the toughest person I have ever met. How tough was he? He cracked walnuts with his bare hands with ease, pulled open apples with his thumbs. I worked out in college, and never beat him in arm wrestling. He survived a car accident in his 20s that hurt him his entire life. In his late 40s, he’d cut, bail, and stack 20 acres of hay by himself without a kick baler. He’d drop it on the ground, put the tractor in low gear, jump off, grab and stack hay on the wagon, then jump back on the tractor and steer it towards another group of bales. Then take it home and stack it in the barn, all in sweltering July/August. In his late 70s, he would climb on the roof of his barn to nail down sheet metal that came loose during a storm. He had a quarter of his nose removed and repaired due to skin cancer, and he laughed it off. Even in his 80s he fixed and maintained three properties mostly by himself. He never slowed down. It’s finally time to rest father, the day has come. We’ve been holding our breath for 35 years waiting for some tragedy to claim you, and now we all can finally rest as well knowing the outcome has arrived. Roger died peacefully in his warm bed, in his peaceful quiet country home, with all the birds singing in the sky, and we couldn’t ask for a gentler way to leave this Earth. Goodbye father, I love you, thanks for everything, I’ll be Ok, Love Daniel

Wishing that the happy memories make you smile in the midst of tears. We are praying for peace for all the loved ones he left behind.

I have much appreciation for the Golembs and their assistance in starting our veterinary service in the Oregon area so many years ago.

ODE TO ROGER GOLEMB 1938-2021 He wakes up early in the dark and dank Dirty dishes does he clank He wakes the sleepers from their beds And directs them to get to work instead Up at dawn he scrubs the floors “Get to work, its late!” he roars He wires, hammers and fixes leakers Work is done in all black sneakers He works on roofs though he has fell The ambulance driver has his cell He loves his dogs more than his life And delegates dog care to his wife Dogs go out, not in the kitchen! It's pee-soaked socks or stop your bitch’n! “Stop your barking, you damn hounds! Or I will send you to the pounds!” It's Father's Day, celebrate with Sandra Why don't you say something to the camera? With old age he got diabetes Now he has to watch his sweeties “Eat your veggies!” he would scream But now he sneaks cookies and cream He hates the spinach, beans and rices And craves some cheesecake in generous slices He demands perfection from himself And supremely manages all his wealth He loves to buy at bargain prices Auctions have the best entices “You need medicine, not this concoction!” “Don't worry,” he says, “it's from the auction…” Save some pennies, gets a scar Just to fix his own damn car “This job is too hard; we need a whole crew!” “We don't need seven, we got me and you!” “It's 30 below, I hate this assignment!” “Just hold the flashlight while I do this alignment…” “My body is freezing; I want to run!” “We will work through the night to get this job done…” “We shouldn't do this; we need the right tool!” “Just help me balance on this rickety stool…” Joseph Golemb owns his heart This has been true since Joey’s start Joe knows he is his grandpa’s pride That’s why he begs him for a ride Joseph Golemb can do no wrong He seduces his grandpa with a trumpet song He loves to watch FOX in very loud tones He turns it up the volume to drown out the moans He goes to Florida, to refresh and think Then it's home-again, home-again jiggidy-jig Through the day he does his chores And through the night, we hear his snores We joke and smile and laugh and tease But he's the toughest S.O.B. you ever did see

Dear Aunt Sandy , I’m so very sorry to hear of Uncle Rogers passing . My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this very difficult time . Love Paula ( Ralph’s daughter )