Obituary of Roger Willmert

Roger Ward Willmert of Cambridge passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2015 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West at the age of 74. He was born on January 31, 1940 in Blue Earth, MN to Ward and Doris (Barmore) Willmert. Roger was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Blue Earth. He attended country school at District #58 and went on to graduate from Browerville High School in 1958. On September 14, 1963 he was united in marriage to Jannice Buckman at First Baptist Church in Cambridge. They first made their home in South Minneapolis and Roger worked at Bermo and later Gage Tool in Northeast Minneapolis. While living in Minneapolis their two sons Ross and Reid were born. In 1973 the family moved to their home west of Cambridge and raised their two boys there. Roger worked several years for Twin City Tool, which was later CMP, and retired from RTD. Roger enjoyed his retirement, helping his boys on many projects and spending time at the Buckman farm in Grasston. Roger grew up helping on the family farm and as a young man would care for farms in the Browerville area so other farmers could go on vacation. Roger enjoyed working in the fields, driving tractor and baling hay. He was a talented handyman, could fix anything and was always willing to help out family and friends whenever and wherever he could. Roger's famous quote was he was "A Jack of All Trades, Master of None". His love of tractors stayed with him his whole life, he presently had a 1937 Allis-Chalmers WC, and a 1953 Allis-Chalmers C. Roger and Jan enjoyed traveling, making trips to Europe, the Western US, and always loved going to Duluth and Grand Marais. He was an avid outdoorsman, went on many fishing trips, loved to hunt turkey and deer. He even has a prize buck in the Minnesota Record Book. He was a member of the Friends of Grass Lake Church and spent many hours in the restoration of the church. He was preceded in death by his parents, and parents-in-law Kermit and Violet Buckman. Roger is survived by his wife Jan of Cambridge, sons Ross of Braham, Reid and wife Katherine of Cambridge, three grandchildren Noah, Joe and Nora, sister Sharon Willmert of Cambridge as well as numerous other relatives and friends.