Roger, a devoted family man with an infectious smile and a big heart, unexpectedly passed away on November 30, 2024. He was born in Wisconsin Rapids on April 2, 1937, and often noted he escaped being an "April Fool" by one day. He grew up with his parents, Russell and Verona, on a dairy farm in Vesper. His father instilled a strong work ethic at an early age, waking Roger at 5 o'clock each morning to help with chores before school. That lesson stuck; he often extolled the virtues of hard work to his two sons.

He attended high school in Pittsville, playing football and baseball. After graduating, he enlisted in the Army, which trained him as a heavy equipment operator. He deployed to France, where he assisted with the reconstruction. He enjoyed his tour and developed an enduring love for operating heavy equipment—he was always happy when visiting his parents' farm to be tasked with operating the bulldozer.

After his stint in the service, he returned to central Wisconsin. An avid dancer, Roger met his wife Janice (Bray) at local dances. They married in 1961, and that was the start of a lifelong love affair that involved a lot of dancing along the way. They recently celebrated their 64th anniversary.

Shortly after the wedding, Roger joined Wisconsin Power & Light (now Alliant Energy) as a lineman's assistant, living in Janesville. His two boys, Douglas and Jeffrey, were born there. Roger spent thirty-plus years with WP&L, obtaining numerous promotions along the way. His job took the family from Janesville, to Oregon, to Sauk Prairie, to Waupun, and then on to Port Edwards, where he served as Operating Superintendent. After the boys graduated high school, he was again promoted, moving to McFarland, where he continued climbing the corporate ladder. He and Jan ultimately retired to a lake home in Merrimac.

Wherever they landed, the Coles were active participants in the local United Methodist Church, where Roger enjoyed singing in the choir, leading bible study, or helping out however he could. He also participated in civic foundations, served in the leadership of Employers in Support of the Guard and Reserve for some twenty years, and had just stepped down after serving nineteen years as Chairman of Wisconsin Utility Investors.

On a more personal note, he loved colorful language. When something fortunate happened, he would observe that "even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while." Or when urgently trying to fix a problem, he might note that it was "hard to think about draining the swamp when you are up to your butt in alligators." Humorous events were "funnier than a hog on ice," and Wisconsin's ice patches were "slipperier than snot on a doorknob." When the family left Waupun, the church family prepared an illustrated book of his favorite sayings. He treasured that.

Roger also loved meeting people. Wherever he went, he would strike up conversations with strangers, a trait his boys sometimes found irksome, but which they now emulate (often to their own children's dismay). He always went out of his way to help neighbors and friends. And they noticed. Already, folks have reached out to share how much Roger meant to them.

But as much as he enjoyed his career, community involvement, and making friends, Roger's main focus was his family. He was a constant presence in the boys' lives, attending practices, games, plays, academic contests, and school events. Whatever the boys were doing, he was there, offering advice, congratulations, or a sympathetic ear, as the situation warranted. When Jeff married Lisa (Schroeder), followed by Doug marrying Sarah (Rudolph), Roger welcomed his two new daughters with open arms. And, when the next generation came along, once again Roger was there, offering the wisdom and patience that comes with age. More recently, he had been a devoted caregiver to Jan, who has struggled with health issues. One could not have asked for a better husband, father, or grandfather.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Russell & Verona, and his sister, Patricia Dialoiso-Cole. He is survived by his wife, Jan, and their two sons and their families: Douglas & Sarah Cole, along with sons Samuel and Joshua, and Jeffrey & Lisa Cole, and their children Dr. Damon Cole (fiancée Dr. Lauren Hogan), Salini, Seth, and Jace.

We celebrate Roger's life and mourn his passing. The world is a sadder place without him, but we cherish every moment that we spent with him. The family will have a private burial this month, with a memorial service planned for the spring.