John William Rogers
John William Rogers, of both Wainwright and Beaver County passed away suddenly on September 1st, 2024, at home, after a long battle with Autoimmune Encephalitis, at the age of sixty-six.
John was born on November 12, 1957 in Assiniboia Saskatchewan, to Anna (nee Silzer) and Harry Rogers. He grew up in the small town of Limerick, where, according to him, he learned to sweep floors and that his father would break his fingers if he decided to become a mechanic.
In his early teens his family moved to Edmonton and he left school shortly before graduating to pursue what would become a lifelong love - driving. He became a truck driver, starting with short haul and working his way up into offroad, oilfield and ice road trucking, he hauled everything, including components to build the University of Alberta Hospital and secret loads to American military sites.
He is one of the few people in the world that had a certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle, fully loaded, carry tons of weight, in his Kenworth. Despite the loving threats of his father, John was an accomplished mechanic, a great wood worker, and could build or fix just about anything.
In 1995, John opened his own trucking company, Wind Walker Transport and when a severe work accident ended his trucking career, he found himself in the fight of his life against WCB, and during that time met his representative and future wife, Teresa. He would always say she was worth getting hit by a Kenworth for.
He was an amazing, smart, kind and funny man, who everyone loved, because above all else, John was honest, real, and true to his word, and he had the biggest most contagious laugh ever.
John was predeceased by his father, Harry and mother Anne, and is survived by his loving wife, Teresa Roper, their children, spouses and families: Frankie Hinchcliffe, and his children Nyx, Sylas and Sawyer; Shayne Hinchcliffe, his wife Max and their son Seth; Christopher Hinchcliffe, his Wife Melody; Jacob Johnson, his wife Heather and their children Carter and Callum. He is also survived by his sister Linda McEachern, her husband Don, and their children, Christina, Darrell and Stacey, His Uncle Ray Silzer and wife Beth, and many cousins.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Encephalitis International, in John’s name at https://www.encephalitis.info/
I am so saddened by John’s passing but so very greatful that I got to meet him this year for his and Teresa’s vow renewal after many years of Teresa telling me about him and their life together, they were still very in love after all those years and it was awesome to actually see them!!! You are now free to do some of the things you loved John, RIP My heart is with Teresa, their children and grand children at this sad time xox
Dad. I can’t believe you’re gone. You were such an amazing person, a role model, and loving husband to my mom, an amazing grandfather to my children Sawyer, Nyx, and Sylas. Above everything else you were my friend. I will always miss you and love you so much. I got the call today while I was at work that you were no longer with us, and my world stopped. I miss you so much already, and I hope I never forget the way your laugh sounds and how deep down it came from. I hope I made you proud, and that you know how much you meant to me. You may have only came into my life when I was 17 years old, but you are and always will be my dad.
Rest in Peace Dad, I love you.
My condolences to Teresa I’m so glad to meet U John was so happy with U, I’m going to miss my friend coworker that I lost contact with years ago. We found each other and started to talk getting into long stories. Then that dam disease came along. I’m so glad to see again and meeting ur new Family and wife Teresa. I will cherish the short time back together. Till we meet again John. And be good up there remember, U have a lot of people needing U to look after us now Love forever ur Friend ❤️💔💔
John was my cousin and I always thought he was the baddest ass and the coolest cat. We had lost touch but I have found memories of him as a kid and stayed updated through my parents (Uncle Ray and Aunt Beth). Sending healing energy and thoughts from Regina to Teresa and family.
Dearest Teresa, I was thinking about you guys and then I found this. Please accept our condolences to you and your family. John was very nice guy. Audrey and Dwight (delight)
It was a shock to find this online. John was one of the kindest people I have ever met. I was just starting out as a driver and he took me under his wing when he really didn’t have to. We always joked that I got my Trucking attitude from him. And of that I am proud.
The world was a better place with him in it.
I am so sad to hear that John has passed. I have many happy, kind hearted, playful memories of John. Having water fights in the greenhouse, having lunch or ice cream up at their house on my break, lots of joking around, lots of visiting and chatting and shooting the breeze. He was a man’s man, he knew all about mechanics and building things, loved working with his hands, but also had such a kind heart. One of my favorite memories was when I was working at R and R greenhouse. I had some car trouble leaving work and was pulled over on the side of the road a little ways away from John and Teresa’s farm, waiting for Kyle to come help me. I was upset and crying and John happened to drive past me and pulled over to see what was wrong. I was just going to wave to him and say “oh don’t worry, I have help coming”. But that wasn’t how John was going to leave me. He got me out of the car, gave me a hug, let me cry a little, calmed me down, had a look at the car to see what was wrong and stayed with me till Kyle came. It felt so fatherly, protective, kind hearted. I will never forget it.