Roy Harlan Rodningen SMSgt USAF (Ret)
Roy Harlan Rodningen was born on July 1st, 1950, second youngest of 5 children to Frances and Herman Rodningen.
In 1972, when he was 22, he decided that he wanted to broaden his horizons and joined the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Thailand, in Okinawa (where his first daughter, Jennifer, was born), California (where his son, Jon, was born), Florida, and to the Philippines in 1987.
It was in the Philippines that he met the love of his life, Lilia. She worked as a secretary for his squadron. They married on June 27, 1989. A year later, his second daughter, Shawna, was born. A year after that, Mount Pinatubo erupted, and he and his family evacuated and were assigned to K.I. Sawyer A.F.B. Michigan, where he began taking classes to pursue a new path that he wanted his life to take: Teaching.
Over the course of the next 6 years, he worked towards a degree in teaching.
During his 25 years of service in the Air Force, he served in both the Vietnam and Gulf war, and earned 2 Meritorious Service Medals, as well as 2 Air Force Commendation Medals. He retired in 1996 immediately after earning his teaching degree.
He took a job as a gas station attendant while working as a student teacher for a year. Finding a permanent teaching position was difficult at the time, so he kept working at Phillips 66 while he continued gaining experience taking substitute teaching assignments for another 3 years.
In 2000, he was finally offered a permanent position at Rumsey Station Elementary School in Papillion, because of the positive impression he made through his student and substitute teaching.
With passion and joy, he began another chapter of his life; and for the next 16 years, educated and enriched the lives of many, many students (and furthered his own education by earning a Masters in his spare time). He started with teaching first grade and later transitioned to working with sixth grade students.
In 2016, he finally decided that he had worked enough, and pursued retirement with the same tenacity that he did the military and teaching.
He dedicated his free time to spoiling his grandchildren, playing fantasy football with his son and sons-in-law, playing board games and having breakfasts with his children, and keeping in touch with the friends and colleagues he had accumulated over his well-lived life.
He dabbled in genealogy, played jigsaw puzzles with his wife, traveled the country with his family, challenged himself to cooking, baking and grilling; and he took up woodworking and furniture refurbishing.
He never slowed down, not even after being diagnosed with cancer.
He was an unstoppable force who lived every moment to its utmost potential. He brought smiles and laughter to everyone who knew him, and the world is an emptier place without him. He was loved greatly and will be deeply missed.
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie-the-Pooh
Roy is survived by his wife of 33 and a half years Lilia; children Jennifer Damon (Joseph), Jon Rodningen (Laura), Shawna Ciurej (Jeffrey); grandchildren Julia Baetsle, Penelope Rodningen, Charlotte Ciurej; siblings Rod Rodningen (Peggy), Lana DePestal (Jim).
Preceded in death by his parents Herman & Frances Rodningen; sisters LuAnn Rodningen and Judith Sik.
Visitation: Sunday, April 2, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Bellevue Memorial Funeral Chapel
Funeral Service: Monday, April 3, 10:30 a.m., Thanksgiving Church, 3702 370th Plaza Avenue, Bellevue.
To view a video of the service, click the link below.
https://boxcast.tv/view/roy-h-rodningen-qkiiwgq2cenjimhcqoeq
Interment: Monday, April 3, 1:30 p.m., Omaha National Cemetery
Military Honors: Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard
Memorials: Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation / www.cholangiocarcinoma.org
5 Comments
I am so sorry to here about Mr. Rodningen. He was one of my favorite teachers. I loved how passionate he was about reading and how he encouraged us to read into our free time. His passion for teaching and love for his students was inspiring.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, he will be very missed.
I am so saddened and sorry to hear the news of Mr. Rodningen’s passing. He was my first grade teacher at Rumsey Station in 2001. He was the type of teacher and person that you could never forget. He made a lasting impact on me, and countless others. Rest in peace Mr. Rodningen. Prayers and thoughts to his family and loved ones.
Mr. Rodningen was by far my favorite teacher growing up. I was fortunate to have him as my 1st grade teacher, and then again as my 6th grade teacher. When we would leave the classroom for recess, we would write a (what we thought was impossible) math problem on the board and he would always have it solved by the time we got back. He would also practice his golf swing using a yard stick in the front of the classroom while teaching… Funny the things we remember. RIP Mr. Rodningen and prayers to the family.
I will miss saying “Good morning” those early mornings of shoveling snow off our driveways. We always seemed to be the first ones out on our street. Roy faithfully walked the dog in all kinds of weather. Seeing him walk with his wife, I could see their special bond. Praying for Roy and all of the family during this time.
Roy was a high school classmate of mine in Minnesota. We had many good times in class and out. Roy was our boys basketball manager and stats keeper. After every game, he made those calls to local papers and radio stations. We had a blast in class plays and working on the school paper. We did not stay in touch after graduation but reconnected at class reunions. So sorry he is gone.
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