William John Rogers passed away December 19th, 2023 in Topeka, KS. He was born April 30, 1942 to William & Helen (Mckay) Rogers in Brooklyn, NY. Shortly after Bill's second birthday, the family moved to Southampton on Long Island where Bill and his older brother, Eddie, grew up.

Bill and his friends spent time swimming in the bay all summer, and skating on the ponds all winter. His first jobs included cleaning swimming pools in Southampton and salvaging old ship anchors from the bay to clean up and sell as lawn ornaments.

Bill played football and wrestled in high school. After a short time in junior college, Bill enlisted in the army. Two years later, his high school football coach put Bill in touch with a coach at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, KS. Bill played football and was the student coordinator for Intramural Sports at KWU. He was also president of the Beta Tau Omega Fraternity. While at Wesleyan, he earned a Bachelors Degree in Education. He also met Dorothy Ann McLendon. They were married in May 18, 1968.

Bill's first teaching job was in Scott City, Kansas. Bill & Dorothy would welcome their first child, Sharlo, while at Scott City. Bill earned his Masters Degree from Ft. Hays. Then, the family moved on to a teaching job in Macksville. The couple added a set of twins, Mark and Bill, to the family while in Macksville. Bill completed his administrative certification and served as high school principal at Rolla, Attica, and Ingalls. He retired from the Easton-Pleasant Ridge school district.

But the part of life that kept Bill excited was coaching. He coached nearly every junior high and high school sport during his career. Many of his teams boasted winning records with league and regional championships. In 1985, he coached the Ingalls girls basketball team to the state tournament with a 4th place finish. He even coached his own three children in volleyball and basketball. Bill coached at more than 100 of the Heart of America Sports Camps over many summers in Salina, KS. Bill also ran summer recreation leagues in several of the small towns where he taught. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bill taught skiing lessons at Snow Creek Ski Area in Weston, MO.

Bill loved horses; owning, training, and riding many over the years. In the early years, the family traveled to compete in horse shows. Bill competed in team roping and barrell riding. In the later years, it was trail riding with the Northwest Arkansas Cavalcade in Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas.

He is preceeded in death by his wife, Dorothy, his parents and older brother Edward W. Rogers.  Survivors include: daughter Sharlo Rogers; sons Mark & Anna Rogers; Bill & Bree Rogers; grandchildren Keely, Lauren, Brock, and Ethan.

Visitation will be held at Davis Funeral in Leavenworth on December 30 from 11am to 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to your local school or community youth sports programs.