Harold James Roeker

Harold James Roeker (76) passed away April 3, 2024 after many years of illness due to Agent Orange exposure in VietNam. During his final weeks he resided at Tabitha Journey House in Lincoln, NE. A Celebration of Life will be held on July, 28 2024 at 2:00 PM; Forest Lake Estates Clubhouse, 6834 Summerset Court Lincoln, NE 68516.

Harold was born in North Dakota July 24, 1947, to Clifford and Agnes Roeker with the help of a mid-wife. Harold and his siblings grew up on a farm outside LaMoure, North Dakota (about 50 miles west of Fargo). Harold was the third of seven children.

Harold graduated from LaMoure High School in 1965.  He completed trade school programs in Heating and Air Conditioning and became an Electrician.

Harold decided to enlist in the Army rather than waiting to be drafted.  He said he wanted to get his military service over so he could get on with his life.  After returning from VietNam he finished his education and received his B.A. in Archaeology from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Harold began contract work as an Archaeology Tech for the National Park Service.  As destiny would have it he soon got a job offer at Midwest Archaeology Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Again as destiny would have it he met a nice young woman and a couple of years later Jodene Renae Schwindt and Harold were married in a garden wedding on the first day of fall in 1996. He didn’t have much time to miss North Dakota because he was a perfect fit for our family.  We kept him busy living the same kind of life style and activities and family life he grew up with in North Dakota! Jodene’s father & the rest of her family all instantly fell in love with Harold too. He fit in perfectly! Hunting, fishing, making bullets, fixing cars, fixing things around the house, and Harold was an excellent cook!

Alas, the effects of Agent Orange exposure in VietNam began manifesting in Harold’s body.  First diabetes shortly after he started working at the National Park Service.  Then other inflammatory diseases; Rheumatoid arthritis rash erupted on his birthday, July 24th, the day of our new house warming party. Then recurring bronchitis and pneumonia that much later was finally diagnosed as asthma.  No one seemed to know, when they were wading in pesticides up to their ankles in VietNam in 1967, where it would lead.  Harold retired on disability from the National Park Service in 2008. The life story of so many young men like Harold who could weld & build, & fix anything in the house or car; hunt for their supper after making their own bullets; shear sheep, spin yarn and knit sweaters; and most of all of these skills, chip arrowheads, and research the history of our land and our country.  A generation of men dying off too soon.

Harold was a very good man, one of the most honest people I ever knew; he was very kind, and funny.  He was loved by everyone he came in contact with and I will miss him.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and brother William. Also by Jodee’s parents Mildred Schwindt and Fred and Betty Schwindt. Harold is survived by his brothers, Kenneth (son Kent and daughter Amanda), David (son Brian) and Richard and by his sisters Caroline and Ruth (daughter Jessica and son Phillip). Jodee’s 3 sisters and their families:  Marjorie Abelbeck, Collette Schwindt, (son Tony Menefee, grandchildren Nick & Luke Menefee), Colleen Kadavy (spouse David Kadavy, sons Bob (Mara) & Brad Walton (Amanda), grandchildren Evija and Lilija Walton).

Memorials in Harold’s name may be sent to:
The Vet’s Center: 211 South 84th St., Lincoln, Nebraska  68510 or
Max Raven Animal Rescue: 4516 Sherman St., Lincoln, NE 68506

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