Roger Lee Mailand, of Seward, was born Jan. 2, 1941, in Seward, to Martin Charles and Martha Marie (Crossett) Mailand.
He attended Seward High School, graduating in 1958. On June 30, 1963, Roger was united in marriage to Sharon Marie Nokes at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Roger served for 33 years as a Lutheran School teacher and Youth and Athletic Director at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Auburn, Michigan, and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He also served as Minister of Christian Education and Youth at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Portage, Michigan. While in Portage, he served on The Croft Retreat Center Board as treasurer. He also volunteered at Portage Community Outreach Center (lovingly called PCOC “Peacock”). Roger was then called to be the Executive Director of Youth and Family Life in the Missouri District where he served for 14 years.
Upon his retirement from the Missouri District, he and his wife, Sharon, retired to Seward, his birthplace. Roger became an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, serving on the Task Force Committee and also on the Evangelism Board for several years. In his free time, he was very active in the local Noon Club of Kiwanis and also sang with the Kitones, the Kiwanis singing group. He also enjoyed taking family vacations at several National Parks. Roger passed away March 12, 2021, in Seward, at the age of 80 years, 2 months and 10 days.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Mailand, Seward; sons, Michael (Diane) Mailand, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Joel (Rebecca) Mailand, Yakima, Washington; grandchildren, Micah Joel Mailand and Ethan Matthew Mailand; brother, Richard (Charleen) Mailand, Seward; brothers-in-law, Lowell (Lorraine) Nokes, Alexandria, Minnesota, Paul (Kathryn) Nokes, Manhattan, Montana, Leslie (Debora) Nokes, Los Lunas, New Mexico, Dennis (Kathy) Nokes, Seguin, Texas, Dale Nokes, Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, Keith (Jerlyn) Nokes, Hayward, California; sister-in-law, Carolyn Nokes, Del Rio, Texas; niece, Kimberly Mailand Cook; nephew, Todd (Autumn) Mailand; numerous nieces and nephews; cousins, Janet Giordano, Lonna and Bob Osten. Roger was preceded in death by his father, Martin Charles Mailand; mother, Martha Marie Crossett Sundermann Mailand Rogers; nephew, Brent James Mailand; brothers-in-law, Raymond Nokes, Gary Nokes; sisters-in-law, Margie (Raymond) Nokes, Jeanne Nokes, Donna Nokes; grandparents, John and Louise Sundermann, John and Wilhelmina Mailand.
A gathering of family and friends isfrom 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward. A funeral service is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 19, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with interment at the Seward Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church, Concordia University or Ridgewood Care Center. Condolences may be left for the family at www.volzkefuneralhome.com.
