Rodney Sagehorn

Rodney John Sagehorn, Kimberling City, MO son of John and Lois Sagehorn, was born March 28, 1941 in Beatrice, NE and departed this life on February 17, 2021 at the age of 79.

Rod grew up on a family farm outside Clatonia, NE, hard work but also many stories of fun with a loving family.  In high school he was a triple athlete and could often be found on the basketball court, baseball and football fields.  He was a member of the 1958 Nebraska High School Basketball Championship team which, in 2007, was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame for its undefeated season. He attended Doane University and Nebraska Wesleyan University.

During this time Rod met Sandra, the love of his life, and they were married for 57 years.

Rod started as a diesel locomotive mechanic with Burlington Northern Railroad in Lincoln, NE and progressed through the mechanical division as he and his family moved to St. Louis, MO; La Crosse and Hudson, WI; Kansas City, MO and Ft. Worth, TX.  After 38 years Rod retired as Vice President of the Mechanical Division overseeing maintenance of all rail cars and locomotives.  He chaired the rules committee, Mechanical Division, of the Association of American Railroads from 1989-1992.  Later Rod joined First Union Rail Corporation in Chicago where he led the Mechanical Division for another 11 years until his retirement.

After retirement, Rod and Sandra built their dream home on Table Rock Lake in Missouri, where they have welcomed friends and family for relaxing times overlooking the lake. Rod was an avid outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, golfing, and boating; and he was always up for a round of cribbage!  Wherever they lived, he and Sandra could be found serving faithfully in their church.  Rod and Sandra had remarkable travel adventures from the Russian Arctic to river cruising in France, touring New Zealand, the Canadian Rockies, and the Caribbean.  They shared road trips through nearly every U.S. state, even Alaska and Hawaii.

Rod served his country proudly in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve, Airman 3c, weapons mechanic.

Rod was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Randall Sagehorn.

Survivors include: his wife, Sandra Lenette (Roelfs) Sagehorn of Kimberling City, MO; daughter, Pam Werley and husband, Mark; son, Doug Sagehorn and wife, Jill; brother, Norlynn Sagehorn; three sisters, Sherril Wegele and husband, Lyle; Jerris Schreiter and husband, Jack and Debra Andersen and husband, Russ; four grandchildren, Michael and Zachary Werley, Sydney and Trevor Sagehorn, plus a host of other family and friends.

Funeral Service for Rod will be Saturday, February 27, 2021 at St. Paul Lutheran Church 2:00 p.m. in Diller, NE with Reverend Mark Liscom. Visitation & Viewing will be from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the church.  A service and burial will be held at Prairie Home Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home of Fairbury, NE.

Memorial gifts may be made to The American Heart Association. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com