“Dad always is there when we need him,” Desiree Rogers said of her father, Lee Rogers, on the eve of Father’s Day. “No matter what, he’ll do without for us.” “THE THING about Dad is he is dedicated to family,” Desiree said, recalling her days of youth when they often didn’t have much money including spells without a car.
That’s praise any father would covet, as well as that from grandson Alex, 12: “He’s the best grandpa.”
Three other grandkids who live on South Buckeye chime in with the similar tributes.
Rogers, 47, watches after them Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until mid-afternoon, during the summer while their parents are at work. His wife, Melody, has things to do at home.
“Dad used to be a little embarrassed about telling people that he took care of his grandkids,” said daughter Desiree. “He said he’d never heard of a man taking care of kids,” a result of Rogers growing up in the 1960s when childcare often was considered a woman’s work.
His willingness to take on the task, “makes him special to us,” said Desiree, speaking for herself and her siblings, Hope and David.
Less than a month into summer vacation, Rogers has adjusted well to caring for the threesome, Emma, 9, Orion, 11, and Keegan, who will be 5 on Monday.
“We watch a little TV, play electronic games and go outside now and then to play,” he said.
The grandkids are adept at video games, and Rogers is learning, though his idea of a game is more likely to involve a bat and ball.
“I played a little baseball when I was young, and I still like to watch it,” he said.
His only hobby is collecting coins, an interest he developed about 10 years ago, and today involves silver dollars, halves and “quite a few wheat pennies,” those minted between 1909 and 1958.
Rogers has worked at Gates Corporation and Russell Stover Candies and as an overnight stocker for Walmart, jobs that came his way through recommendation of Manpower, but he has been out of work for a spell, which gave him opportunity to help out daughter Hope with her children this summer.
“I’d like to get back on at Russell Stover,” he said.
Also, there were times when he worked at Downtown Fine Foods, where El Charro is today, and The Greenery.
“When I was young, I thought I would like to be a carpenter,” Rogers added, “but it never worked out.”
He appreciates a chance to be outdoors, and has no qualms about mowing and tending a lawn. Rogers also is handy, Desiree crowed, and quickly can put a power mower back to purring when its engine gets contrary.
Tough times brought the family together, she said.
“Dad loves to play Santa Claus at Christmastime, and hand out presents,” Desiree said. “He still does.
“And I remember birthdays when he didn’t have the money to buy one, he’d make birthday cards for us.”
The Rogers family hasn’t made specific plans for Father’s Day Sunday, other than some or all probably will gather for a cookout.
“That’s what we usually do,” said Rogers, in typical unassuming way.
Rogers takes on unconventional role
