Roger Bailey

Roger Dean Bailey was born on May 8, 1944, in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Virgil and Lila (Meek) Bailey. He was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Roger grew up on a farm, where he learned the values of hard work and responsibility at a young age. He attended Balaton Elementary School in Minnesota and graduated from Spencer High School in Spencer, South Dakota, with the Class of 1962. Following his education, Roger planned to follow in the footsteps of his father and pursue a life in farming; however, after his barn burned down, his plans changed. He proudly served his country in the United States Army, enlisting on February 27, 1965. He spent over a year serving in Vietnam and was honorably discharged on February 26, 1968, attaining the rank of E-5. Following his military service, Roger began working for his uncle, Dick Bailey, where he learned the trade of welding.

On October 19, 1968, he was united in marriage to Sharon “Shari” Mae Henrichs. Together they were blessed with two sons. Roger later worked for Schwartz Manufacturing; welding farm implements and delivering welding supply gases to local shops. The family eventually relocated to Spencer, Iowa, where he began working for Land O’Lakes Beef Processing as a maintenance lead. Roger’s career continued in Dakota City, Nebraska, where he joined Iowa Beef Processors (IBP) as an engineer. He later transferred to Denison and was recognized as the longest-serving engineer at a single facility with IBP/Tyson, an accomplishment that reflected his dedication and work ethic.

Roger was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. In his younger years, he enjoyed pheasant hunting with his brothers and spending time outdoors. He took great pride in yard work and landscaping, finding purpose in the daily challenges of hard work. Known for his precision, Roger was often found tinkering on projects. He cherished family vacations and especially enjoyed snowmobiling trips together. He always made sure his children had fun and that family time was a priority. A phenomenal cook, Roger loved bringing his family together around the table. He was selfless, always putting others before himself and ensuring they had what they needed. Whatever he focused on, he gave his whole heart. His sons describe him as the strongest person they know, humble, quiet, and resilient. Roger overcame many challenges in his life with perseverance and loved his family deeply. He was immensely proud of his sons and grandchildren and took joy in teaching them skills throughout their lives. In his final years, Roger devoted himself to caring for Shari. Even while facing his own health challenges, he made sure he was always there for her. He was, in every sense, a lifelong caregiver to his family.

Roger passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026, exactly two weeks after his wife’s passing, at Rolling Meadows Senior Living in Carroll, Iowa at the age of 81 years, 8 months and 24 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Shari Bailey; grandson, Dylan Dean; and brother-in-law, Bruce Ramm.

Roger is survived by sons: Todd (Ann) Bailey Clear Lake and Chad (Tina) Bailey of Denison; grandchildren: Brandon Bailey, Tyler Bailey, Abby (Dillion) Eck, Madison (Jordan) Schiltz and Tucker Bailey; great-grandchildren: Wyatt Eck, Myles Eck, Huxley Eck, Sophia Eck and River Schiltz; a great-grandson on the way; siblings: Randy (Judy) Bailey, Colleen (Craig) Schroeder and Donny (Vicki) Bailey; siblings-in-laws: Lynda (Tom) Billars, Gwen (Denny) Johanson, David (Jeanie) Henrichs and Deb Ramm; and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation with family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. Interment will follow in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Denison. The family will direct memorials.