William Howard Rogge

March 21, 1936 - January 2, 2018

William Howard Rogge, 81, of Ottawa Hills, Ohio, died on January 2, 2018 at Ebeid Hospice in Sylvania after a courageous and uncomplaining battle with lymphoma. Bill was born March 21, 1936 in The Toledo Hospital to Howard W. Rogge and Hazel (Frysinger) Rogge. The family lived in Swanton where his father was a school principal and later moved to Bryan, Ohio, where his mother taught third grade and his father was school superintendent. While in high school, Bill played baritone horn in the marching band, string bass in the school dance band and also piloted small planes. He graduated from Bryan High School in 1954.

Bill majored in Physics at The Ohio State University, receiving a Ph.D. in 1965. He played baritone horn in the Ohio State Marching Band for five seasons (1954-58), traveling with the band to the 1955 and 1958 Rose Bowl games. After graduation, he took great pride in marching in the TBDBITL Alumni Band at alumni day games.

Following graduation, Bill began his career doing scientific research and quality control at Owens-Illinois in Toledo, where he worked for over 30 years. In retirement, he continued to work as a consultant specializing in statistical quality control in glass and plastic bottles, most recently at Gehl Foods in Wisconsin.

Bill was an avid sailor who raced Lightning Class sailboats in Columbus and later at North Cape Yacht Club and Devil's Lake Yacht Club in Michigan. He organized regattas and served as Commodore at both clubs and also competed in the Lightning Nationals. Whether working or racing, Bill was knowledgeable, methodical and always the voice of reason.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; his children, Gretchen of Cleveland and Mark of San Francisco; stepdaughter, Karen Fruth (husband Lynn Fruth) of Ottawa Hills; stepson, Charles Giddings of Ottawa Hills; grandchildren, Macey and Libby Fruth, and Charles, Jr., Alexandra and Samantha Giddings of Ottawa Hills; sister, Rebecca Ogden of Delaware, Ohio; cousin, Maureen McJilton of Lambertville, Michigan; and a nephew and niece. He will be dearly missed by all.

Calling hours will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2018 in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave (west of Corey Road), Toledo, and conclude with a memorial service at 12 p.m. Interment will be private.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 740 Commerce Drive Suite B, Perrysburg, OH 43551 or North Cape Sailing School for Junior Sailing Program, NCYC, 11850 Toledo Beach Road, LaSalle, MI 48145.

Bill was a member of the marching band from 1954 through 1958. He played baritone.