Funeral service for SFC Roger Leon Rommens, age 82, of Decatur, will be Thursday, July 7, 2016, 10:00 a.m. at Shelton Funeral Home Chapel with Rick Eichelberger officiating. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Following the service, interment will be 2:45 p.m. at Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo, AL.
SFC Roger Leon Rommens departed this earth for his Heavenly home on July 2, 2016. He was born in Woonsocket, RI in 1934, to Philemon Rommens and Marie Laurette Perron Rommens. He was a retired Army veteran who served his country proudly for 20 years. He first entered the military at age 18 when he joined the Air Force where he served for 10 years. Roger left the military for a brief period before joining the Army where he served the remaining years of his career, retiring in 1973, at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. During his time in the army, he was a member of the First Calvary and was a combat soldier in the Vietnam War. For his service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Purple Heart and other honors including the Air Assault Medal due to the many times he jumped from a Huey helicopter into battle zones. Roger was very proud of his military career, and even his time in Vietnam (despite being inflicted with the horrors of Agent Orange). His contamination with that horrible chemical caused him pain and suffering the rest of his life, but he seldom complained. He just “soldiered” on through a very abundant life. During his time in the military and the years of his second marriage, Roger visited 40 countries and 45 states. He loved traveling and planning the next trip. He was very creative in using his drafting skills building anything of which he dreamed. Roger often said, “I have a PhD in life.” He had a great sense of humor and laughed often.
Roger was a member of the Beltline Church of Christ in Decatur, AL. He loved the Lord, his family, his country, traveling, his houseboat on Lake Guntersville, and the Crimson Tide football team. Roger was of French descent, but he often stated, “I am an American, and that is all.”
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved stepfather, James K. Daley, his first wife, Shirley Tanner Mann Rommens, and two grandchildren, Pamela Mann and Chelsea Miller.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Favors Rommens; one sister-in-law, Dianne Nettles (Bill) of Huntsville; six sons, A. Michael Mann (Adrienne) of Plainfield, IL, Steven E. Mann (Pat) of Hazel Green, AL, Donnie J. Mann (Earlene) of Rogers, AR, Rickey L. Mann (Brenda) of Gurley, AL, Charles R. “Chuck” Mann (Brenda) of Rogers, AR, and Benny Mann (Carol) of Athens, AL; and two daughters, Lisa K. LaDuke (James) of Bradenton, FL, and Lori Shell (Dennis) of Jonesborough, TN. He is also survived by three stepchildren, Brian Favors of Athens, AL, Joan Favors Reid (Fred) of Montgomery, AL, and Leah Favors of Decatur, AL. Roger is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Jacki Schneider of Hastings, MI, Melissa Mann of Hazel Green, AL, Elizabeth Parr of Cave Springs, AR, Jessica Bonds and Christina Ward of Centerton, AR, Stacie Mann of Rogers, AR, Brandon Carpenter of Memphis, TN, Jamie and Peyton Mann of Fayetteville, TN, Josh Walls of Jonesborough, TN, Christopher Mann of Plainfield, IL, Lucas Mann of Delton, MI, Heather LaDuke of Huntsville, AL, and J.T. and Elizabeth LaDuke of Brandenton, FL. Also, he is survived by eight great-grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren, Kristen Hopper of Decatur, AL, Courtney Reid Pugh of Birmingham, AL, Brandi Favors of Decatur, AL, and Chase Reid of Tuscaloosa, AL, plus one step-grandchild.
Pallbearers will be sons and grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to Habitat for Humanity, the USO, or the Beltline Church of Christ Building Fund.
