Laurence John Rogel passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus his Savior on February 18, 2022, at his home in Bozeman, Montana. He was surrounded by his wife, Mary, and four children, Michael, Christine, Megan, and Kaitlin. Laurence was a loving husband, father, and oral and maxillofacial surgeon who cared for his community for close to 40 years.
On July 27, 1952, Laurence was born to Irene Zajda and Edward Rogel in Watervliet, Michigan. His father was a Marine during World War II who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima and returned to Michigan to grow soybeans, peaches, and other produce alongside his wife and three sons. When Laurence wasn’t helping on the farm, he was conducting chemistry experiments which ignited his lifelong love of science. During high school, he was a varsity football star, performed in dozens of plays, and was homecoming king.
Laurence left the family farm to attend Michigan State University. His love of the Western landscape led him to pursue dentistry because he “wanted to live out West.” He attended the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and fulfilled his National Health Service Corp Scholarship obligations with the United States Public Health Service. He was practicing dentistry in Tohatchi, New Mexico, when he unexpectedly met his wife, Mary, who came to the Navajo Reservation from New Jersey to teach at an elementary school. They were married for 39 years.
Laurence went on to specialize in oral and maxillofacial surgery, completing his residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He then returned to New Mexico, where he operated practices in Gallup and Rio Rancho. He served his patients with compassion, humor, and skill that many expressed gratitude for. He was a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Club and was actively involved in the New Mexico Dental Association.
Laurence loved the mountains, skiing, fly fishing, and camping with his family. He loved music, singing, and playing the guitar. He and Mary loved last-minute road trips to Telluride, Colorado, and attending the bluegrass festival there. He relived his fondest childhood memories, sleeping in the hay while his daughters Megan and Kaitlin rode horses. He loved watching Notre Dame football with his son, Michael. One of his last expeditions was fly fishing the Yellowstone River with his daughter, Christine. He was revered for his work ethic, generosity, spirituality, and compassion as a surgeon. He often donated his medical services to those facing poverty. And he practiced oral surgery for as long as he could, finding satisfaction in alleviating the suffering of others.
Taking after his warrior father, he battled throat cancer for 24 years. Laurence is survived by his wife, Mary; son, Michael Rogel; daughters, Christine Rogel and her fiancé, Andrew Morse; Megan (Jeremy) Armstrong, and Kaitlin (Peter) Jones; brothers, James (Michele) Rogel and Donald (Lynette) Rogel and their son, Ryan.
A vigil will be held on February 24, 2022, at 4:45 p.m. at Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service in Bozeman and a funeral mass will be held on February 25 at 10 a.m. at Resurrection University Catholic Parish. His final resting place will be Sunset Hill Cemetery in Bozeman. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Resurrection University Catholic Parish for a new tabernacle, 1725 S. 11th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715.
Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson
Funeral Service.
www.dokkennelson.com
Published by Albuquerque Journal on Feb. 27, 2022.
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