Army Rodgers
August 22, 1994 — April 27, 2017
Army Rodgers
Bloomington - Army Ranger Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, 22, of Bloomington was killed in action on April 27, 2017 in Nangarhar Province during a joint operation with Afghan forces. Josh was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was on his third deployment to Afghanistan.
His Celebration Of Life will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Eastview Christian Church in Normal with Pastor Mike Baker officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Kibler-Brady Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
A private family interment will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Josh Rodgers Scholarship Fund c/o Normal Community High School.
Josh was born on August 22, 1994 in Bloomington Illinois, a son to Kevin and Vonda Coulter Rodgers.
Surviving are his parents, Kevin and Vonda Rodgers of Bloomington; two sisters, Emily Rodgers and Hannah Rodgers (Nathan Iloilo) of Bloomington; a brother, Ashton Rodgers of Bloomington; a niece, Victoria Rodgers of Bloomington; grandparents, Russ and Diana Coulter of Gibson City and Christine Rodgers of Bloomington; aunts, uncles and cousins, Duane, Trish, Makayla and Delanie Fisher of Aurora, Colorado; Joe and Carrie, Tyler, Cecil and Charlie Rodgers of Bloomington, Illinois; Dan, Marcie and Charlotte Rodgers of Janesville, New York.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Mike Rodgers.
Josh attended Northpoint Elementary, Kingsley Jr. High and Normal Community High School. After graduating from high school in May 2013, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, as an infantryman. Following completion of the Basic Airborne Course, Rodgers was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, also at Fort Benning. Rodgers graduated from RASP 1 and was then assigned to 2nd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment where he served as a Machine Gunner, Light Machine Gunner, Gun Team Leader, and Ranger Fire Team Leader. While serving our country, Josh deployed three times to Afghanistan, earned the coveted Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge Expert-Rifle. He was also awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. Posthumously Sergeant Rodgers was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with Valor.
Though we mourn, we must remember the good times and cherish them forever. Josh loved his country, his family and friends, the military and especially, his fellow Rangers and Regiment. Josh knew his purpose in life and was living out his dream. He was an amazing friend with a big heart. Josh had a smile that could light up any room and a very contagious laugh that was loved by all. He was a man of very few words, but when he spoke you listened. Through hard work and determination he continually led by example and made everyone around him proud. His generosity was unwavering and if you needed anything from him he was always there. We encourage all of those who once knew Josh to not make this a final goodbye, rather a see you later. As Josh told his grandma before he left, "If I don't come home, I will be with Jesus." Although Josh may physically be gone, his presence on earth will forever remain near. His soft-spoken words will continue to be our daily motivation. Josh was, and forever will be, a warrior. Tenacious, humble, determined, and supportive. He was a true inspiration to everyone who knew him.
Our service men and women are drawn to join for a multitude of reasons but underlying the search for adventure, the desire to see the world, the need for a "steady" job, is generally a rich vein of patriotism and a healthy dose of desire to serve and protect. Although rarely acknowledged, each one knows that a military life also means separation, hardship, often times living in adverse conditions, and the unspoken exposure to danger. Though it is rarely brought out into the light, this knowledge is tucked away and balanced by the pride in serving our country, affinity to their chosen military branch, and loyalty to their brothers and sisters in arms. For those like Josh who died in service, we do not believe that their lives were "Lost", as that minimizes the sacrifice. "Lost" implies a helpless, directionless, wandering. Josh and every other person who honorably serves in our military knows and accepts that risk, but does it anyway. They are smart, strong, talented and focused; filled with honor and pride.
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13 NIV
1500 Airport Road
Normal, IL 61761
1500 Airport Road
Normal, IL 61761
His Celebration Of Life will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Eastview Christian Church in Normal with Pastor Mike Baker officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Kibler-Brady Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
A private family interment will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Josh Rodgers Scholarship Fund c/o Normal Community High School.
Josh was born on August 22, 1994 in Bloomington Illinois, a son to Kevin and Vonda Coulter Rodgers.
Surviving are his parents, Kevin and Vonda Rodgers of Bloomington; two sisters, Emily Rodgers and Hannah Rodgers (Nathan Iloilo) of Bloomington; a brother, Ashton Rodgers of Bloomington; a niece, Victoria Rodgers of Bloomington; grandparents, Russ and Diana Coulter of Gibson City and Christine Rodgers of Bloomington; aunts, uncles and cousins, Duane, Trish, Makayla and Delanie Fisher of Aurora, Colorado; Joe and Carrie, Tyler, Cecil and Charlie Rodgers of Bloomington, Illinois; Dan, Marcie and Charlotte Rodgers of Janesville, New York.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Mike Rodgers.
Josh attended Northpoint Elementary, Kingsley Jr. High and Normal Community High School. After graduating from high school in May 2013, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, as an infantryman. Following completion of the Basic Airborne Course, Rodgers was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, also at Fort Benning. Rodgers graduated from RASP 1 and was then assigned to 2nd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment where he served as a Machine Gunner, Light Machine Gunner, Gun Team Leader, and Ranger Fire Team Leader. While serving our country, Josh deployed three times to Afghanistan, earned the coveted Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge Expert-Rifle. He was also awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. Posthumously Sergeant Rodgers was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with Valor.
Though we mourn, we must remember the good times and cherish them forever. Josh loved his country, his family and friends, the military and especially, his fellow Rangers and Regiment. Josh knew his purpose in life and was living out his dream. He was an amazing friend with a big heart. Josh had a smile that could light up any room and a very contagious laugh that was loved by all. He was a man of very few words, but when he spoke you listened. Through hard work and determination he continually led by example and made everyone around him proud. His generosity was unwavering and if you needed anything from him he was always there. We encourage all of those who once knew Josh to not make this a final goodbye, rather a see you later. As Josh told his grandma before he left, "If I don't come home, I will be with Jesus." Although Josh may physically be gone, his presence on earth will forever remain near. His soft-spoken words will continue to be our daily motivation. Josh was, and forever will be, a warrior. Tenacious, humble, determined, and supportive. He was a true inspiration to everyone who knew him.
Our service men and women are drawn to join for a multitude of reasons but underlying the search for adventure, the desire to see the world, the need for a "steady" job, is generally a rich vein of patriotism and a healthy dose of desire to serve and protect. Although rarely acknowledged, each one knows that a military life also means separation, hardship, often times living in adverse conditions, and the unspoken exposure to danger. Though it is rarely brought out into the light, this knowledge is tucked away and balanced by the pride in serving our country, affinity to their chosen military branch, and loyalty to their brothers and sisters in arms. For those like Josh who died in service, we do not believe that their lives were "Lost", as that minimizes the sacrifice. "Lost" implies a helpless, directionless, wandering. Josh and every other person who honorably serves in our military knows and accepts that risk, but does it anyway. They are smart, strong, talented and focused; filled with honor and pride.
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13 NIV
Visitation
MAY 6. 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (CDT)
Eastview Christian Church1500 Airport Road
Normal, IL 61761
Celebration Of Life
MAY 6. 1:00 PM (CDT)
Eastview Christian Church1500 Airport Road
Normal, IL 61761
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Army Ranger Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, please visit our floral store.
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