Roger L. Pettera

Roger L. Pettera, age 63, of Hanover, Illinois, died on Friday, October 10, 2014 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 16, 2014 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hanover. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Hanover, with military rites accorded by the Hanover VFW Post # 5300. A visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Law Jones Funeral Home, Hanover. A scripture wake service will be held at 3:30 p.m., prior to the visitation at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established in Roger’s memory.
Roger was born on February 14, 1951, the son of Lawrence and Florence (Wilkinson) Pettera in Boscobel, Wisconsin. He attended Hanover High School and graduated with the Class of 1970. After graduation, Roger enlisted in the United States Air Force. Roger proudly served his country from 1970-1975. Roger married Rose Holland on October 16, 1976 in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Galena, Illinois. Rose died on November 1, 2007 at her home in Hanover.
After he was honorably discharged from the Air Force, Roger came back home and worked for Eaton Manufacturing, Hanover. He also worked for Woods Implement in Mt. Carroll, Illinois and for the Cotton Brothers Oil Company in Sabula, Iowa. Most recently, Roger shuttled clients to appointments for the Jo Daviess County Transit Authority. Roger loved the outdoors, especially hunting and gardening. Roger enjoyed completing Sudoku puzzles, running errands, and visiting with family and friends.
Roger will be dearly missed by his daughter, Amy Pettera of Hanover; four brothers, Bernie (Fay) Pettera of Hanover, Jeff (Janet) Pettera of Hanover, Brian Pettera of Hanover, and Jerry Pettera of Rockford, Illinois; two sisters, Susie (Steve) Groharing of Hanover and Gina (Marty Gibson) Kennedy of Hanover; and one aunt, Zonia “Cookie” Ryniewicz of Hanover. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Rose, a stillborn son, Raymond and an infant nephew Nicholas Pettera.
The family would like to thank the Veteran’s Administration, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, for all the loving care they provided to Roger over the past few months.