John Randolph Rogers Jr., 76, of Grinnell died on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at UnityPoint-Grinnell Regional with his family by his side.

As per John's wishes, there will not be a service. Memorials may be directed to the Multiple Myeloma Foundation and sent in care of Cox-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service, PO Box 163, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

John was born in Paris, France on February 17, 1948, the son of John Randolph Rogers and Mary (Barroll) Rogers. The son of a diplomat, he grew up in various countries, attending primary school in Paris and graduating high school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When he was 18, John moved to the United States. John was an undergrad at Georgia Southern University. He received his master's degree at American University in Washington, D.C. John worked as a management consultant with clients such as Amtrak, GE, Maytag, Northrop Grumman, and Taco Bell. John was an extremely well rounded man and loved writing.

John spent several decades in California, where he raised his son, Peter, and met his wife, Beverly Jorgensen his lifelong love for almost 30 years. John furthered his education at the University of California, Irvine with creative writing classes to fuel his passion to write short stories inspired by his love of The New Yorker. It wasn't until his Multiple Myeloma diagnosis, in 2006, that he decided it was time to put pen to paper and draft his first novel. John used his vast knowledge and younger experiences of living abroad to inspire his stories. He authored 8 novels of espionage and foreign intrigue and numerous short stories. His intriguing novels cover the world, often playing out in fascinating little-known cities and were based off historical events with a unique different perspective. They can be found on his website at www.authorjrrogers.com.

Besides writing fiction, John was also an avid lifelong reader and had a vast library. His other interests included human rights, indie films and photography. He often enjoyed a glass of fine wine, sitting in the garden with his loyal companion, Walter the Basset Hound, and cooking a good meal for Beverly and himself. He and Beverly eventually moved to Iowa to continue a more peaceful life and work more on his novels. John left a deep impression on everyone he met, and he will be missed dearly. His memory will live on through his loved ones and in his novels that he put so much passion and care into.

John will be missed by his wife, Beverly Jorgensen of Grinnell; children, Peter (Amanda) Rogers and Ann Jorgensen; his brothers, Chris (Pascale) Rogers and Richard Rogers; sisters, Mary (Perry) Rogers-Bakshi and Elizabeth Gehlmeyer; his sisters-in-law, Joyce (Garry) Olson and Phyllis Davis; and brother-in-law, Mark (Camille) Sampers; several nieces and nephews; and his trusted companion, Walter.

He was preceded in death by his parents.