Roger E. Fenn

Roger E. Fenn
1939-2023

Cameron, Missouri- Roger Earlin Fenn, 84, of Cameron, passed away May 25, 2023. He was born April 15, 1939 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Earlin and Lorraine (Susie) Fenn.
Roger had a passion for service and helping others. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education from Northwest Missouri State College. After graduating, Roger went on to teach in the Winston, Missouri School District. He wore many hats during his time in Winston including business and industrial arts teacher, basketball coach, drama and musical director, bus driver, senior class sponsor, and even principal. Roger then became a sales representative for Western Chemical Company to support his growing family. He eventually moved on to HPI Products in St. Joseph, and worked his way up to Vice President of Corporate Development before retiring.
Roger met the love of his life, Sylvia Turner, on a blind date set up by mutual friends and the two later eloped on December 18, 1963. They were blessed with three daughters, Becky, Kim, and Cindy. Roger loved his family. Whether taking the kids trick or treating in his wolf mask and scary purple coat, painting buildings at their Girl Scout camp, or taking them for rides around the house on his motorcycle, he loved his babies. He would love you abundantly and unconditionally, even after you wanted him to let you out of his bear hug and quit pestering you. He loved boating and camping, playing poker with his buddies on Sunday night, traveling internationally with the Girl Scouts, and riding his motorcycle cross country with his father-in-law. When Roger met you he always found a connection or something you had in common, so he truly never met a stranger. He always remembered everything about you no matter how much time had passed. He told the best one liners, loved pulling pranks and could get the room rolling in laughter. Roger loved to swing dance and jitterbug with Sylvia, his kids and grandkids, and would sing to every song whether he remembered the words or not. He made an impact on so many lives, and friendships that last a lifetime.
Roger was involved in many organizations in his community. He served on the Cameron R-1 School Board for 9 years and was President for 5 of those years. He was also a member of the Missouri School Board Association Board of Directors and Phi Delta Kappa International educational organization. Roger was President and member of the Missouri Western State College Parent Council for 11 years, Chairman and member of the Missouri Securities Investment Program Board of Directors for 5 years, a charter member of the Winston Lions Club for over 25 years, and founding member of the Department of Homeland Security. He served as president of People to People in Cameron where Roger and Sylvia hosted teens from their sister city, Nagano, in Japan. He was also a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts and staff at Camp Woodland, Albany, MO. Roger was a member of the St. Joseph chapter of the Coast Guard Auxiliary for over 35 years. He patrolled Smithville Lake, taught boating classes, conducted search and rescue missions, and served as Flotilla Commander for over 10 years.
He is preceded by his father and stepmother, Earlin and Lila Fenn, and mother and stepfather, Lorraine and Ben Jones.
Survivors: wife, Sylvia, of the home; daughters, Becky Estep, Cameron, Missouri, Kim Vento (Steve Thesenvitz), Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Cindy (Adam) Anderson, Cameron, Missouri; 4 grandchildren, Amanda (Matthew) Killen, Tyler Anderson, Mariah Anderson, Blake Anderson, and bonus grandchild, Jordan (Pepper) Green; 2 bonus great-grandchildren, Oliver and Honey; 2 brothers, Steve (Pam) Jones, Red Oak, Iowa and Murray (Heather) Fenn, Carson, Iowa; and sister, Marjean (Mark) Ollendick, Apache Junction, Arizona; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, one hour prior to the service.
Celebration of Life: 3:00 PM, Friday, June 2, 2023 at Poland-Thompson Chapel.
Memorials may be given to The Roger E. Fenn Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Online condolences: www.polandthompson.com
Arrangements by Poland-Thompson Funeral Home, Cameron, MO.