Gary L. Rodocker

Some men are born strong, and strong-willed, natural leaders to those around them. Gary Rodocker was just such a man, a born leader, teacher, and coach. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and a friend to many. Most of all, Gary was a man who always made the people around him stronger, smarter, and better.

Gary's story began on a cold winter day in 1937, in the state capital of Lansing, Michigan. Those were hopeful times in this country, when Americans' resolve hardened and the country pulled itself from the quagmire of the Great Depression. President Roosevelt's New Deal put so many people back to work, when a strong back could once again earn an honest wage. On January 27, 1937, Paul and Josephine (Serrels) Rodocker had even more to celebrate, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Gary.

Gary was the third of six children in the family's home in the town of Holt. His father toiled as a tool and die maker to provide for his large family, while Gary's mother kept occupied with six kids.

Gary was all boy from the get-go. He had a paper route for many years saving his pennies to by his first bike. He became a Cub Scout, and was always very adventurous, rambunctious, and athletic, too. By the time he reached Holt High School, Gary had grown into a strapping young man, as well as a great athlete. He excelled at football, basketball and baseball. His talent in baseball got him an invitation to try out for the Detroit Tiger Minor League. He was a particularly great basketball player, and the newspapers dubbed him "Rocket Rodocker". He was named to the first team of the 1955 Michigan All-State Basketball Team, earning him invitations to play at many colleges and a full-ride scholarship to Western Michigan University!

So after graduating from Holt in 1955, Gary headed to Kalamazoo, to play basketball and study Education at Western. He found so much more there, as well. One night his freshman year, he followed his friend home for the weekend. While visiting., his buddy set him up on a blind date with a beautiful young woman named Judith Green, and the sparks really flew between them. They began dating, fell in love, and two years later, they were married on February 23, 1957. To support his young wife, Gary drove a beverage truck. They soon welcomed their first child, Robyn, with daughter Keyle rounding out the family not long after.

Gary finished his Bachelor's degree 1967, and then went on to earn his Master's, too, so he could get a better job to support his family. He then took a teaching job at Springfield High School, near Battle Creek. Gary taught business and physical education, but his true enjoyment came from coaching the school's freshman basketball and football teams, and the varsity baseball team, which he seemed born to do.

Gary was a natural coach, a strong-willed, competitive man, who pushed his players, students and children to be the best they could be at whatever they did. He was often hard on them, but he only wanted the best for each of them, teaching them to win, succeed, and strive for something greater in their lives. But Coach was certainly no cupcake! Gary was always barking in their ear to run faster, push harder, become better. In the summertime, Gary supervised the Summer Recreational Program run through the school system organizing fun activities for the children including running the Springfield Little League to make sure his future athletes were being trained properly.

Gary always found time for himself. He played on a softball teams which provided an outlet for his competitive fire. He trained and ran in marathons and other races, and enjoyed playing on basketball teams. Together, Judie and Gary enjoyed dancing and belonged to a dance club.

Eventually, Springfield High School merged with Battle Creek Public Schools, and Gary moved over to Battle Creek Southeastern Junior High. Soon he became the junior high's basketball coach. He stayed there until he retired in the late 1990s.

After he retired, Gary found time for some of his many hobbies, especially woodworking and tending to the yard he was so proud of. He was always making sure his yard was well-maintained, which for him was a labor of love. Gary liked bicycling with his grandchildren and enjoyed having time for his life long hobby of fishing. He loved reading, especially history primarily westerns and the civil war era.

Gary also loved spending time with his grandchildren, and after so many years coaching boys, Gary enjoyed watching and encouraging his twin granddaughters in their softball games as well his twin grandsons in their early years of lacrosse He loved his family and grandchildren and had to preserve every gathering with his camera, being the official family photographer.

In October 2005, Gary was inducted to the Holt High School Hall of Fame, for his athletic success there; an honor he was so proud to receive. Sadly earlier in July, he was diagnosed with cancer. Always a competitive, strong-willed man, Gary put up a valiant fight with the disease, until he died Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at Rose Arbor Hospice, with his family by his side.

Gary was such a strong man, a born leader, teacher, and coach. He always pushed his athletes, students, and children to become stronger, smarter, and better, teaching them through encouragement, and through example. Today his lessons, and his love, lives on in all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Gary, view his life story film and visit with his family and friends Friday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Dr., where a funeral service will be held Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Members of his family include his wife Judith, his daughter Robyn & her husband Michael Thomas of Kalamazoo and their sons Brandon & his wife Cheryl Thomas, Adam Thomas, and twin daughters Sarah & Meghan Thomas, his daughter Keyle Rodocker-Carlson of Mattawan and her twin sons Kaleb & Logan Carlson, his siblings Nancy & George Whyte of Mason, Paul Richard Rodocker of Florida, Raymond & Sharon Rodocker of Lansing, Marilyn & Robert Pell of Holt and Larry Rodocker of Holt as well as many nieces & nephews. Please visit Gary's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read his Life Story, share a favorite memory, sign his guest book or make a memorial donation to Prostate Cancer Foundation or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.