Roger Elfgren

Roger Elfgren passed away at St. Johns Good Samaritan center in Kearney on February 8, 2012. Roger was born on November 24, 1943 in East Killingly, Connecticut, the fourth of six children born to Ernest and Dorothy Elfgren. Roger was 12 when he traveled by covered wagon with his parents, brothers and sisters from Connecticut to Nebraska, arriving in Broken Bow in August 1956. Roger attended school in Connecticut thru the 7th grade. Roger graduated from Broken Bow High School with the Class of 1961. After graduation, he attended business school in Omaha for a year. Roger joined the Army in September 1962. He was stationed in Germany the same time as his brother Carl. While in Germany he made several trips to Sweden to visit and get acquainted with his relatives that lived in Sweden. After being discharged from the Army in 1965, Roger worked in the Elfco family business in Berwyn and later in Gothenburg. While living in Gothenburg, Roger married Gretchen Engstrom. Roger moved to Denver in 1971. Roger was a dog enthusiast, buying his first Afghan hound in 1968. He began showing Afghan hounds, which led to his career of dog grooming. He had grooming businesses in Denver, Colo., Portland, Ore., and Kearney, Neb. At the time of his death he operated Oceanview Pet Grooming in Odessa, Neb. Roger raised and showed Afghan Hounds for over 40 years. He also showed dogs for other people. Roger had several champion Afghan Hounds and left his mark with other Afghan Hound Breeders through the U.S. Roger was a charter member of the Afghan Hound Club of Greater Denver. Roger was a founding member of the Central Nebraska Kennel Club. Showing and grooming dogs was his life. Roger became a member of the Catholic Church in 2011. Roger was preceded in death by parents Ernest & Dorothy Elfgren, wife Gretchen Engstrom and brother, Carl Elfgren. Survivors include a brother Oscar Elfgren, Townsend, Mont; three sisters, Sandra Dunkel and husband Junior, Broken Bow, Neb; Linda Smith and husband Delbert, Cozad, Neb; and Donna Hatfield and husband Mike, Lexington, Neb. He was also survived by several nieces, nephews, an aunt, Francis Pechie of East Killingly, Conn., and several cousins in Connecticut; a family friend, Phyllis Samp of Ansley, Neb., and friend and caregiver Michael Sowl, Kearney, Neb. Memorial services will be held Monday, February 20, 2012, at 11:00 AM at the Christ the King Church, 13th & M Street, Cozad, Neb., with Father Donald J. O’Brien officiating. Memorials may be made to the family. Inurnment will be at the Broken Bow Cemetery at a later date. A register book may be signed until Friday at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow.