Eugene Joseph Roguski

Eugene Dad Roguski, 96, loving father of Ruthellyn (Ron) Musil of Neenah, departed this earth peacefully on Sunday, October 21 following a brief illness. His daughter and son-in-law were by his side. A resident of Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh, Eugene joined his dear wife of 67 years, Ruth, who passed away in July, 2003. A native of St. Louis, MO., Eugene was a retired newspaper editor whose career spanned more than 50 years. At the age of 16, he joined International News Service as a copyboy, and rose through the ranks to become Bureau Chief in St. Louis, Kansas City (MO) and Chicago. He joined Chicagos American in 1957 as night city editor, held that position as the newspaper became Chicago Today, and retired when that newspaper folded in 1974. For the next 30 years, in retirement, Eugene and Ruth lived in rural Salem, MO on a cattle farm. The Roguskis moved to Oshkosh in 2003.In the four years he lived in Wisconsin, Dad made many friends of all ages. A truly gentle man, he was known for his warm smile, quiet spirituality and signature line, thanks for all you do. This was never more evident than during his recent hospitalization at Mercy Medical Center, where he touched many people and received extraordinary and compassionate care from everyone.Eugene was an avid sports fan, especially of baseball. As a young man, he was a catcher on semi-pro baseball teams with a batting average that topped .400. Recruited by the St. Louis Cardinals for the catchers position, he turned down the offer because he could make more money in the news business. From 1943 to 1945, Gene served in the Army Signal Corps in Italy and France during World War II and was awarded three Bronze Stars. A Mass to celebrate the life of Eugene Roguski will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 27 at St. Patricks, 320 Nicolet Blvd., Menasha, WI. Friends are invited to gather beginning at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment with military honors will take place at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis on Monday, October 29. Memorials appreciated to the Evergreen Retirement Community Foundation, 1130 North Westfield Street, Oshkosh, WI. 54902.FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE Eugene Gene Roguski was known for his gentle hand with young reporters during 17 years as a night editor of Chicagos American and Chicago Today.Mr. Roguski, 96, died Sunday, Oct. 21, of complications from pneumonia in Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, Wis., where he had lived in a retirement community for the last four years, said his daughter Ruthellyn Musil, senior vice president of corporate relations for the Tribune Co.Already a wire service veteran, Mr. Roguski was bureau chief for the old International News Service when he joined Chicagos American, which was owned by the Tribune, in 1957. He remained in that position when the American became Chicago Today, and retired when the Today folded in 1974.His shift started at 4 p.m. and ended at midnight, and his staff was often made up of fresh-faced reporters new to the paper and without enough seniority to work days.There couldnt have been a better first editor for a new reporter in Chicago than Gene, said Michael Hirsley, who started at Today in 1969 and retired as a reporter with the Tribune earlier this year. Gene was our father figure, a teacher with infinite patience. He instructed quietly and praised lavishly.Eventually, reporters were given the opportunity to move to days. But several, including Hirsley, opted to stay on the later shift so they could work with Mr. Roguski, Hirsley said.There were relatively few women in the newsroom, and he made us all feel equal, said Mary Dedinsky, a Tribune editor who started her career as a Chicago Today reporter. He knew Chicago and made you proud to be a reporter.For most of his years working in Chicago, Mr. Roguski lived in Park Forest, taking the train home each night and walking about a mile to his home in all kinds of weather, his daughter said.The son of Lithuanian immigrants, Mr. Roguski grew up in St. Louis and got his first news job at the International News Service there at 16. A semi-pro baseball catcher, he chose not to pursue a career in the major leagues because he thought the news business paid better, his daughter said.He served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II, and recalled being in the cathedral in Reims, France, on V-E Day.Upon his return he continued to work at INS, including stints as bureau chief in St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., before coming to Chicago.After his retirement, Mr. Roguski and his brother-in-law went in together on a on a 120-acre cattle farm near Salem, Mo. Although it was his first foray into farming, he was fully immersed in raising Hereford cattle over the next 20-plus years, his daughter said.Wed call and hed say, Oh I just pulled out a calf, she said.Mr. Roguskis wife, Ruth, died in 2003.A one-hour gathering will precede a mass at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Patricks Church in Menasha, Wis.FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCHRoguski, Eugene J. (Gene), 96, formerly of St. Louis and Salem, MO, departed this earth peacefully on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, WI following a brief illness. Gene was the loving husband of Ruth (nee Bueker) for 67 years; she preceeded him in death in July, 2003. He was the cherished father of Ruthellyn (Ronald) Musil; loving Uncle Gene to Marilyn (James) Turk, Frank (Barbara) Ladish, Mary Ladish and Michael Ladish; and fond cousin of Florence Sodomka and the Bommarito family. A retired newspaper editor whose career of more than 50 years began in St. Louis with the International News Service, Gene retired in 1974 from Chicago Today where he was night city editor. Gene had fond memories and love for St. Louis, where he was born. He was a catcher on several Muni League baseball teams during the 1930s, with a batting average that topped .400. He was offered a catchers position with the St. Louis Cardinals, but turned it down because he could make more money as a reporter for INS. He often remarked in later years: Boy, times have surely changed with what baseball salaries are today!A Mass celebrating Genes life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 27 at St. Patricks in Menasha, WI. A World War II veteran, Gene will be inurned with military honors on Monday, October 29 at 11 a.m. at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.SALEM, MO - SALEM NEWS OBITUARY A Mass service for Eugene J. Gene Roguski formerly of Salem was October 27, 2007 at St. Patricks, Menasha, Wis. Interment was October 29, 2007 in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, with Full Military Honors. Mr. Roguski died October 21, 2007 in Oshkosh, Wis., at the age of 96 years. Survivors include his daughter, Ruthellyn Musil and husband, Ronald, Neenah, Wis. Preceding him in death were his wife, Ruth (Bueker) Roguski; brother-in-law, Lester Bueker and wife, Ruby. Mr. Roguski was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

St. Patrick Catholic Church



324 Nicolet Blvd.
Menasha
WI
54952

Saturday, October 27, 2007
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM



St. Patrick Catholic Church



324 Nicolet Blvd.
Menasha
WI
54952

Saturday, October 27, 2007
11:00 AM



Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery



2900 Sheridan Road
St. Louis
MO
63125