Obituary of Roger Dean Gintert
Obituary of Roger Dean Gintert
Roger Dean Gintert was born on October 5, 1926 in Shellsburg, Iowa and passed away holding hands with family, in his home of 65 years on November 24, 2023.
Roger was the son of Albert and Merle Gintert. His family moved to Sheldon, Iowa in 1939. Roger attended and graduated from Sheldon High School, where he participated in football and basketball. After graduation, he attended the University of Iowa before entering the United States Marine Cadet Corps where he served for two years during WWII. He returned home to Sibley, Iowa in 1946.
Roger met Norma Ruth Bogaard of Sheldon, Iowa in 8th grade and they became close friends and were married on June 18, 1949. The ceremony was held at the Bogaard family home in Sheldon. They were married 73 years and had an incredible love for each other, often caught holding hands.
After two years living in Sibley, Iowa, they moved to Santa Cruz, California where Roger began work as an insurance adjuster. In 1953, he started his own independent insurance adjusting firm, where, he was joined by partners, Neil Schwene and Bob Warne of Santa Cruz. The firm was known as Gintert, Schwene and Warne Adjusters. In 1967, the firm was recognized as one of the outstanding independent insurance adjusting firms in Northern California.
In 1972, Roger sold his interest in the firm and became a partner with his brother-in-law, David Bogaard in the construction business.
Roger was very active in all his business pursuits, serving as President in the Independent Insurance Adjusters. He acted as President of the Santa Cruz Lions Club and served on the Santa Cruz School Board.
His greatest pleasure was helping start the University Baptist Church in Santa Cruz, (now known as High Street Community Church) and serving over the years as building chairman, financial secretary, treasurer and as a Deacon, as well as teaching a 4 and 5 year old Sunday School class with his wife Norma. His life was greatly influenced by the church’s first pastor, Marvin Webster, who served the church for 35 years as Senior Pastor. Marvin and his wife Jini remained very close friends even after Marvin’s retirement.
Roger loved Jesus and had a deep faith. He enjoyed encouraging others in their journey and met weekly with other men to pray and study the Bible.
Roger was an avid golfer, starting to play at the age of twelve. He played many of the courses in the United States. He considered himself, privileged to play several in Scotland including those at St. Andrew, at the age of 79 with his son, Doak and nephew, Jim Bogard. Roger had three holes in one, one on the 8th hole at Delaveaga, and others on the 8th and 18th hole at Pasatiempo.
Another passion of Roger’s was travel. He and Norma traveled throughout the United States and many of the European countries as well as China, even taking a trip around the world. In his last months, at 97 years old, he was still encouraging people to travel. Weekly, he reminded his favorite Hospice nurse, Mara Charron to take the trip and greatly enjoyed sharing travel stories and memories with his beloved caregiver, Erma Yap.
Roger was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Norma Ruth Gintert on February 26, 2023. He is also preceded by his parents, Albert and Merle Gintert, brother Donald Gintert and sister, Alta Ruby.
Roger is survived by his daughter, Leah Kasavan and husband, Jeff, of Lodi, California and son, Doak Gintert and wife, Jeri, of Santa Cruz, California. His grandchildren, Jessica Griffith (Timothy), Laura Kasavan, Alyssa Pullen (Orbie), Jenise Wauchope (Matthew) and Philip Kasavan, as well as his most precious great grandchildren, Anthony and James Wauchope, Thatcher and Mabel Griffith and Asher Pullen.
Roger is also survived by his sister, Beverly Garman in Allen, Texas, brother-in-law, Calvin Bogaard in Texas and sister-in-law, Leone VanDer Woude in Iowa.
Roger leaves behind many good friends and wonderful Ortalon Avenue neighbors.
A celebration of life will be held at High Street Community Church on January 27th at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Hospice of Santa Cruz, Mount Hermon Conference Center or High Street Community Church.
Celebration of Life
