If it’s true that the best geologist is the one who has seen the most rocks, then this guy would be the greatest—but he was better than great. Roger loved studying geology and was incredibly enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge of the Earth with others. Every family vacation involved a rock, fossil, mineral, or geologic feature, and every outing enabled Roger to lead a field trip or add to the geologic database in his head. Roger concluded his 59-year geologic field trip on November 18, 2024, in Grants Pass, Oregon, two years after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Though we no longer perceive him with our earthly senses, everyone who knows him can feel his energy when we find a fossil or a fascinating rock, or question the landforms we see.
Roger Wagerle was born in Riverside, California, and grew up in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. His family’s many outdoor adventures fostered Roger’s relationship with the Earth and he became a rockhound at a young age. Roger attended Fleming Middle School and graduated from North Valley High School in Merlin, Oregon, in 1983. He was involved in performing arts, forensics, and athletics. He was named “Most Inspirational” for the boy’s track team in 1983 and broke the NVHS pole-vault record with a jump of 12' 11 1/4". He was inclined to walk on the wild side, doing a backflip on the arch of the Caveman Bridge, exploring abandoned mines, and jumping off that notable rock at Hellgate Canyon.
Roger worked as an electrician in Los Angeles before earning his B.Sc. in Engineering Geology and M.Sc. in Geology from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. Roger met Leann in Petrology class, and in 1998, they became field partners for life. After moving to Houston, Texas, they were joined by two permanent field assistants, Sydney and Lyndsey. Every adventure, big or small, was a chance to build knowledge, make memories, and learn from each other.
Roger’s last business card says Sedimentologist/Stratigrapher and he thrived on analyzing stacking patterns, whether it’s a roadcut on the interstate, a world-class outcrop, or well-placed construction materials. Roger’s academic and professional geology travels took him to Utah, Calgary, Arkansas, West Texas, San Diego, Argentina, Spain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia, and Siberia. As a husband and father, he enabled the family to find crystals in Arkansas, snorkel in the Bahamas, celebrate Christmas in Hawaii, swim in the Indian Ocean, spend New Year’s on a Caribbean cruise, live in Western Australia, snowboard at Steamboat, collect thunder eggs, see live stromatolites, find trilobite fossils, prospect for diamonds, pick Kona coffee, sled down sand dunes, sit in dinosaur footprints, kiss a kangaroo, and make a tradition of eating Thanksgiving dinner at Denny’s.
Roger’s daughters, 21 and 18, and wife of 26 years love and miss him fiercely. Roger’s father Ted passed in 1997. His mother, sister, and brother still live in Grants Pass.
Roger’s physical body under went alkaline hydrolysis and his remains are solidified in Parting Stones that are being shared with family and friends.
Roger didn’t study Earth science to be better than other geologists, nor was he just a guy obsessed with rocks. His determination to learn everything about rocks, minerals, landforms, and earth processes was his calling. It was his will. Roger stayed true to himself, and on his own spiritual journey, he continually sought to understand the Earth and its relationship with Life.