NOTE: Bob Rogers was a wrestling coach at Hobart Middle School and Hobart High School.
INFORMATION FROM PIERRE FUNERAL HOME (EVANSVILLE, IN) WEBSITE:
Robert “Bob” Lant Rogers passed away on October 12, 2025, at his home in Evansville, Indiana, surrounded by his loving wife and children. He was 78 years old.
Bob was born October 4, 1947, in Gary, IN, to Ladell H. (Forney) Rogers and Charles A. Rogers. Bob grew up near Lake Michigan in the Miller area of Gary. He spent his younger days with siblings and childhood friends, playing in the sand dunes of his Inland Manor neighborhood. Bob attended William A. Wirt High School and graduated in 1965. Bob briefly attended Indiana University before he was called to serve in the Vietnam War in 1968.
Bob served as a combat medic with the 82nd Airborne until 1970. Bob was deeply proud of his military service. He often said, “I wouldn’t want to do it again, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Following his deployment, Bob returned to complete his degree at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN. It was there he met his future wife, Mary Helfrich. Bob and Mary were married on September 4,1971 in Evansville, IN. She lovingly survives.
Bob and Mary made their home in Hobart, IN, where they raised their children Sarah and Mark. He worked much of his career as a property insurance adjuster; however, Bob’s real passion was coaching wrestling. Bob coached at Hobart Middle School and Hobart High School, as well as numerous years of freestyle club wrestling. During this time, he not only coached his son but also coached and mentored countless young men. Many of his former wrestlers reached out with messages of love during his final days. Our family is deeply grateful for their kindness. After their children were grown, Bob and Mary also lived briefly in Anthem, AZ; Wannamaker, IN; and Franklin, IN. Four years ago, they finally settled in his wife’s hometown of Evansville, IN.
Bob will be remembered for his sense of humor, which was frequently sarcastic. He loved to tell a good story, animated with impressions of all the people involved. He loved watching sports, especially his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears. He could often be heard using colorful language to “cheer on” his favorite teams. Bob was known for his talent for selecting paint colors, furniture, and artwork. Bob and Mary’s homes were beautifully decorated.
Bob is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Rogers of Evansville, IN, his daughter Sarah (Scott Jessie) Rogers of Franklin, IN, son Mark (Anna) Rogers of Phoenix, AZ; and his grandchildren Maya Jessie, Nina Jessie, Nixon Rogers, Lauren Rogers, and Preston Rogers. Bob’s siblings, Tom (Jannie) Rogers of Westfield, IN; Don (Jackie) Rogers of Hobart, IN; and Lynn Frerichs of Sioux Falls, SD, also survive. Bob was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Ladell Rogers.
No formal services will be held, according to Bob’s wishes. Pierre Funeral Home in Evansville is entrusted with final arrangements. The family will plan a celebration of life on a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a military veteran charity or a local food pantry in his memory. Bob personally supported Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnels to Towers, and the Hobart Food Pantry. Our family wants to thank all the friends and extended family who helped us through this challenging time. The family also thanks the employees of Heart-to-Heart Hospice for their care in Bob’s final days, especially Laura. We genuinely appreciate the exceptional care Laura gave our family immediately following Bob’s death and the dignified way she honored his military service.
This information was obtained from: https://www.pierrefuneralhome.com/obituaries/robert-rogers-74/#!/Obituary.
POSTED BY KENT MOORE ON THE HOBART WRESTLING CLUB FACEBOOK PAGE:
This weekend the Hobart Wrestling family lost a great man. Coach Bob Rogers …” Coach Bob” was as instrumental to the success of countless wrestlers on and off the mat as anyone has been.
He came to the Hobart Wrestling Club in the early 1980s when his son Mark started wrestling and was a staple not only coaching club but Middle School then HS for the Bricks and was active throughout the early and mid 2000’s before moving away. Even after moving he would still come out to support the wrestlers when he was in town or they were in the Indy area. Even wrestlers he didn’t know he would drop them a note wishing them good luck, and maybe even make them a container of his famous spaghetti sauce. This was a great man. He believed in doing things the right way. Hard work, tough love and a straight forward no nonsense (yet sometimes hilarious at the same time) way of telling you what he thought, but also he’d be the first to put his arm around you and let you know he was proud of you, and he believed in you. Coach Bob followed the boys beyond the mat. As much as he cheered and coached the them up on the mat he was even more proud of them as they became husbands, and fathers, and the managers became wives and mothers. He didn’t just love the all-stars. He loved the hard workers, and had a special place in his heart for the ones that got the absolute most out of the little they had. The ones with more heart and grit than talent and accolades. Even the little kids in the club now still get a little bit of Coach Bob from some of us that were there then, or those he’d coached have kids in the club. Coach Bob is an absolute Hall of Famer, and even more a Hall of Fame human. Thank you Coach for all you did not only for Hobart wrestling but for all of us men and women who got to call you Coach. You are so loved and will be so missed. Coach loved him some Roy Orbison and “working for the man” was his theme song… and we were all honored to work for the man. Thank you to his family for sharing him with us for so many years. Rest easy Coach. You gave us all you had. We got it from here.
This post was obtained from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/168385093230676/.