Rodger Koffler

A Funeral Mass for Rodger Koffler, 75, of Dickinson, will be 10:00 a. m. , Tuesday, May 14th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dickinson with Father Keith Streifel celebrating. Burial will take place at a later date in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan.


Visitation for Rodger will be 1:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. , Monday, May 13th at Stevenson Funeral Home in Dickinson with a Rosary and Vigil service being held at 7:00 p. m.


Rodger passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at St. Benedict’s Health Care Center in Dickinson.


Rodger Anton Koffler was born September 27, 1937 in Dickinson, the son of Anton and Barbara (Essert) Koffler. He grew up and attended grade school at St. Joseph’s School, graduating from Dickinson High School in 1955. In September, he entered the US Army, serving until 1958 when he was honorably discharged. Rodger was a Radar TT Operator while stationed in Berlin. He was decorated as Marksman (rifle), Army Occupational Medal (Berlin) and Marksman (Carbine). Rodger returned to Dickinson and went to work for KDIX TV as a TV Engineer. On June 8, 1964, Rodger and Shirley were united in marriage at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. To this union, Sandra and Pam were born. He worked for several years with Chevron Oil – Gulf Oil. The couple then purchased Husky’s Café and operated it for over 10 years. They later purchased House of Bottles and renamed it Grumpy’s Hideaway. Two years later they purchased the Broadway Bar which became Grumpy’s Broadway. The couple retired in 2007. Rodger and Shirley did everything together, enjoying retirement, socializing with family and friends, golf, fishing and traveling all over the place. In spite of his nickname “Grumpy,” Rodger was a very soft-hearted man with a great sense of humor. He had a giving spirit and chose to gift his body for further research towards Parkinson’s disease. Rodger was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Anthony’s, Eagles, his Berlin Veterans Group, and the German Hungarian Club which his grandfather and a partner opened in 1912.


Rodger is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughters, Sandra Koffler and Pam Jahner of Dickinson; two grandchildren, Norman of Mandan and Andrea Hanson of Fargo; brothers, Jack Koffler of Martinez, CA, Keith (Helen Kraft) Koffler of Dickinson; sister, Karen (Ken Berger) Strauser of Dickinson; brothers-in-law, Ray Hushka and Eli Kramer and numerous nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Anton and Barbara; brother, Ted Koffler; sisters, Marian Knobel and Joanne Loyas; father- in-law and mother-in-law, Anton and Mary Ann Hushka; brother-in-law, Jay Hushka; and sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Kramer and Sandra Hushka.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: May 14, 2013
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Tuesday: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, ND