Edgar Lee Roetker

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Edgar Lee Roetker, 79, of Guthrie, OK will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, June 17, 2022 at St. Joseph Church, 324 S.W. 2nd St., Buffalo, OK with Reverend Christuraj Maddhichetty officiating. 

Ed was born August 14, 1942 in Ashland, KS to Andrew and Lucille B. (Hall) Roetker. He passed away Monday, June 13, 2022 in Oklahoma City, OK. 

Ed was raised on the family farm in Selman, OK. He started elementary school in a one room schoolhouse in Paruna and later graduated from Selman High School in 1960 in a class of 7 students. Following high school, he went on to attend Northwestern University and then to Colorado to study Cryptography where he was trained in Morse Code. Following his schooling, he moved to Greeley, CO where he lived with his favorite Aunt Leatrice and family and spent time traveling across the west coast before finally moving back to Oklahoma.

Early on in Ed’s life he met a young woman visiting her family just down the road. They would build a friendship that would years later bloom into a lifelong romance. Ed and Judy were married on February 6, 1965 and made their home in Buffalo eventually welcoming 3 adored children - Rodney, Stacie, and Tori. Before eventually taking over the family farm, Ed and Judy drove his semi truck many miles all across the U.S. hauling cattle and seeing the countryside. Though Ed was successful in many things, it was farming that was his true passion. He worked tirelessly perfecting every crop, every terrace, and every line of fence. His extremely hard working nature and the heart he put in showed throughout everything he did. 

Throughout Ed’s life, he would make many friends and touch countless people’s lives. There wasn’t a place he went that he didn’t make a friend or offer someone a kind word, smile or even an invite to join his table. He was known for his big heart and kindness but it was his quick wit and orneryness that would quickly win you over. Ed could always make anyone laugh. Whether it was one of his classic one liners or one of the many infamous stories of his boyhood shenanigans, Dad would have you laughing in no time. He also loved a good practical joke which he grew quite good at over the years and was known to regularly play on his wife leading to the eventual “Dammit Ed” which would always make him chuckle.

Ed will be remembered for many wonderful things but most notably he was a really, really good man, a devout Catholic, a loving husband, an amazing father, and a light in all of our lives. He was truly one of a kind and will forever be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Knight; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, James DuVal and Ruth DuVal.

Ed is survived by his wife, Judy Roetker of the home; son, Rodney Lee Roetker and wife, Dian of Buffalo; daughters, Stacie Wilson and husband, Steve of Buffalo and Tori Roetker and fiance, Kojo Bonsu of Guthrie; brother, Tommy Roetker and wife, Jane of Protection, KS; and sister, Andrea Sweeney of Ft. Worth, TX. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Tayler Chambers and Noah of Lindsay, OK, Kylie Wilson and Skyler Rupp of Wichita, KS, Colton Roetker of Lindsay,  and Kimber Wilson of Buffalo; step-granddaughter, Chelsey Brown of Atlanta, GA; great-granddaughter, Wren Chambers; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

There will not be any visitation. 

Memorial donations may be made in his name to St. Joseph Church of Buffalo, OK.

Arrangements were under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 220 North 1st St., Guthrie, OK 73044.

Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgalllo.com.