World War I
Clarence Edwin Rodgers was born Dec. 27, 1892, to early Osmond pioneers Edwin and Elizabeth Rodgers. His father was a watch maker, druggist and telephone exchange owner. Clarence had five brothers and sisters, Viola, Myrtle, Kathryn, Waldo and Ernest. Unfortunately, Clarence’s mother died when he was only 7 years old, and his siblings were 10, 9, 6, 4 and 1, respectively, Clarence graduated from Osmond High School in 1912. He always wanted to be a doctor, so he attended Wayne State College and then the University of Nebraska Medical School, graduating in 1919.
I could find no information about Clarence's service in the military, and wondered about when he would have served, since he graduated medical school in 1919. The only information I found was that he signed his World War I registration card in 1917 and claimed exemption for himself as a medical student – although that doesn’t mean that he received exemption, obviously.
Clarence interned in Omaha and then established his practice in Osmond on July 24, 1919. He married Christina Christensen two months later on Sept. 24, 1919. They had six children: Betty, Dorothy, Robert, Evelyn, James and Gary.
Christina died in 1960, and it was in her memory that he built and presented a new brick building, in 1961, to be used as the town library. At that time, he was honored with a recognition day, and in 1963, he received the Nebraska Library meritorious service citation.
Dr. Rodgers was greatly interested in the development of youth in the community. In the early 1930s, he built a miniature golf recreational facility.
Although modest in extent, it filled a need at that time during the Great Depression. He was also an avid baseball fan.
He helped organize the Osmond Gun Club, also in the 30s, and it was one of the largest groups of its kind in the state. He was a member of the village board for more than 25 years and was instrumental in the construction of Osmond’s WPA sewage system in the 30s, and later the town’s pavement and street improvement program, and the city’s swimming pool.
Dr. Rodgers was a member of the Osmond Community Club, and one of the original board of directors that founded St. Joseph Hospital. He was also a member of the Osmond Volunteer Fire Department for more than 25 years.
As a physician, Dr. Rodgers delivered more than 2,000 babies, most of them in people’s homes.
In 1968, Dr. Rodgers was honored with receiving a 50-year pin from American Legion Post 326.
The doctor suffered a light stroke in 1966 and gradually limited his practice until poor health made it necessary to cease his practice completely. He died March 4, 1969, at Osmond General Hospital.
Most businesses were closed during the funeral, which was held at the United Methodist Church. Doctors from neighboring towns and Dr. Mailliard of Osmond attended, as did the active operators of Osmond General Hospital, the Sisters of St. Dominic, members of the hospital staff and hospital auxiliary.
The Community Club, hospital board of directors and firemen were also represented at the funeral.
Kevan Schuettler sounded Taps. The graveside firing squad was composed of Elmer Schuettler, Wayne Blunck, Del Galvin, Arnold Bumann, Palmer Albers and Darwin Johnson. The Sergeant-at-Arms was Orville Bahr and Color Bearers were Willis Nissen and Frank Peschel. Color Guard was Kenneth Blunck and William Rieken.
Of his children, his daughter Dorothy worked in a defense plant in California before marrying Clinton Friedrich of Plainview while he was serving in the Navy. Robert was a navigator with the Air Force; he married a nurse who was also in the service and after the military he became a veterinarian. James served in the Army, and Gary served in the Navy for 20 years.
It seems Dr. Rodgers not only served his community well himself, but also instilled in his children a sense of duty to their community and their country.
Dr. Rodgers and his wife are buried in the city cemetery, about 2/3 of the way up the hill and to the right, a little over halfway to the north of the main drive.
