Roger D. Scherbarth, Sr.

Roger was born just outside of Taylor Nebraska, the third of four children (Grant, Ted and Zora, his older brothers and younger sister) of Albert and Ella Mae Scherbarth. Growing up he was a typical kid from the small town of Taylor. He skipped school quite often to go fishing, hunting or messing around at the river and gravel pit ponds. Several times he was bringing home food for the table from his adventures. These skills were a precursor to him leaving Taylor and joining the Army at the age of 17 (Served: 10 October 1949 - 22 October 1952). Basic training was at Fort Riley Kansas and then on to Ski Trooper Training at Camp Carson in Colorado. He always made the comment that part of the reason he joined was to get out of the cold Nebraska winters so it was ironic that cold weather training was his next stop while in the Army. Little did he know what was in store for his future? He met his future wife, Skip, at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and they married in August of 1950.

His first permanent duty was 13 months in the 24th Infantry Division, 441st Counter Intelligence Corps in the area of the Pusan Perimeter of South Korea where he reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. From Korea he finished out his time stationed at Fort Riley by training new troops with the temporary rank of Sergeant First Class. During his service he was awarded the Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds he received in Seoul Korea; Distinguished Unit Citation; Combat Infantry Badge; Korean Service Medal with five Campaign Stars; and the United Nations Medal. After an honorable discharge, he, Skip and #1 son moved to Milford Nebraska to use the GI Bill to become a “Welder and Machinist”.

The family moved around to several steel fabrication companies in the Midwest to gain experience, and then settled in Sargent, Nebraska, opening his own welding shop. They added a daughter before selling the shop and moving to Fairbury, going into business with his two brothers, forming “Scherbarth Inc.” One more son was added while here to complete the family for a marriage that lasted nearly 60 years. In 1971 Roger took up a hobby that turned into a passion and substantial business tool for getting to job sites around the Midwest; “Flying”. Three planes later and adding a helicopter in the mid 80’s he was able to accumulate over 29 years of flying (6,000 airplane & 1,200 helicopter hours) until he had to give it up, due to medical certification issues. Partially retired, Roger and Skip purchased a motor home and did some traveling, visiting family and friends until she passed in 2010. He is happy now reunited with Skip and others paving the way for the rest of us when it is our time.

Though preceded in death by Skip, those that most benefited from his influence: Early in life were: Brother, Theodore spouse Carolyn and Sister Zora Tannahill. Children: Dan, Jeanne, and Alan. Their spouses: Marian, Tag, and Janice; Grandchildren: Vicki, Andrew, Joe, and Marc. Great Grandchildren: Zach and Quintin; Mother of Vicki and Andrew, Linda, and many special friends.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 3:00 P.M. at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury. Burial will be on Monday at 2:00 P.M. at the Banner Cemetery at Burwell, Nebraska with military rites.