COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Our beloved dad, Keith Rogers, passed away at his home May 11, 2026. He celebrated often with family in Colorado Springs, Colo., and most recently we had the great honor of celebrating his 92nd birthday. Although we are left with a hole where he was here beside us, we are consoled with the many warm memories and delightful stories of a life well lived.
Those stories will continue to be shared by his surviving children, Pat Goodhue of Navarre, Fla., Tammy (Gary) Hughes of Goleta, Calif., Kathy New, Kelly (Helen) Rogers and Becky Pantano, Colorado Springs. He also leaves behind 13 grandchildren, Bruce Navarro, Trisha Boggs, Shawn Hughes, Kevin Hughes, Randy Hughes, Kristopher Rogers, Nicholas Rogers, Anna Marie Walk, Zachariah New, Matthew New, Gabrielle Pantano, Andrew Pantano and Connor Pantano; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother, Earl Rogers, Kansas City.
Preceding him in death was his first wife, Beverly (McKinley) Rogers; second wife, Janice (McBride) Rogers; brothers, Don Rogers and Fred Rogers; and sisters, Joy Long and Gailene Garlock.
There will be a graveside service 11 a.m. May 30, at Phillips Cemetery, near Reading, Kan., and a celebration of his life June 6, in Colorado Springs.
Keith started life in Topeka, Kan., and lived on a family farm just outside of Harveyville, Kan. He graduated from high school at Harveyville, and then went to college in Emporia, Kan., to pursue teaching.
Keith spent the majority of his life teaching science at the junior and high school level in Dodge City, Kan., Palmer Lake, Colo., and Colorado Springs. At the start of the ‘60s he was offered the opportunity to earn his master’s degree from Syracuse University. He packed up his wife and two young children, went to New York, and earned the master’s, as well as adding another child to his little family. He soon found a home in Colorado Springs, spending the majority of his career at Palmer High School teaching science, and for years was the only human anatomy and physiology teacher.
He and Bev added their two youngest children to complete their family.
Although teaching science was his career, he was never not working, and throughout his long life he spent summers painting houses, and earlier in life was harvesting hay, working in a grain elevator, and even cement construction.
He was talented, clever and an extremely hard worker, so when he went to retire he tried to enjoy some down time. Although Bev left this world during his retirement, he continued to fill his time. His down time could also be called do-si-do time, because it often consisted of square dancing. During one of his promenades, he was lucky in love once again and found his amazing second wife, Jan. They continued square dancing together for several years. He also enjoyed playing golf and dominoes (although Spinners was where the real action was!).
Although we have lost him here beside us, Dad, Grandpa, Keith will be forever in our hearts, our memories and our actions because we all strive to “do our best” which is what he bid us to do every time he said goodbye and I love you.
