Roger Valley

Roger John Valley, 84, hit a grand slam over the gates of Heaven October 7, 2026, on his baseball sun porch in Lansing. The home run ball fell at the feet of Bill Hogan, one of Roger’s teammates and best friends. On the bases were the Harpers Ferry Hawks, Kenny Williams, Pim Williams, and Dick Delphey. Watching this sacred event were former baseball legends and stand-outs, Gus Rethwisch, John Rethwisch, Joe Hogan, Kevin Keenan, along with his bonus sons, Brian, Nathan, and Damian Imhoff, and Dustan and Jordan Duffy, and many other Lansing and Harpers Ferry area legendary players.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 24 at 3 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing with Rev. Laura Gentry officiating. A lunch reception will follow at TJ Hunters Lounge in Lansing. Friends may greet the family from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, October 24 at the church. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse, WI, Monday, October 26, at 11 a.m.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing is handling arrangements. As part of Roger’s legacy, memorials will be directed to the following local passions of Roger that include the Red Cushion Pew Project, Local Animal Advocacy, and Veteran Advocacy.

Roger was the first-born son of Cletus “Keek” and Paula (Houlihan) Valley and the grandson of Ed and Aline (Hogan) Valley and Patrick and Mary (Ma) (Kosci) Houlihan. From all accounts, he took on the first-born son role and became a grandparent favorite, even when seen coming around the corner on two wheels in his car. This blue-eyed, blonde, adventurous lad was born in Waukon October 27, 1941.

The second favorite son was Ronnie Valley born August 7, 1944. After Ronnie’s birth, their father Cletus was drafted into WWII. Roger’s mother then had the full responsibility as a single mother. It was a challenging time, as Paula ran Valley’s Tavern in Harpers, assisted by her very good friend Lois (O’Brien) Robinson. Roger had extreme heartwarming memories in Valley’s Tavern. All of the customers gave Roger anything he really wanted.

The third favorite son was brother Rick Valley, arriving December 29, 1946. The first favorite daughter and Roger’s sister Vicki arrived on the scene January 16, 1950, followed by the second favorite daughter and Roger’s sister Nancy May 25, 1952. The last favorite daughter and Roger’s sister Shirley arrived August 25, 1957. All of Roger’s siblings were close to his heart and soul and they spoke on the phone almost daily. It was often wondered how they had topics to talk about, but they did. They talked and Roger listened!

Roger entered this worldly adventure Monday, October 27, 1941, at 2 a.m. at Hall’s Hospital in Waukon. He was delivered by Dr. Jeffries and Dr. Rominger and assisted by nurse Mrs. George Hall. He weighed in at eight pounds, according to his mother Paula. Paula also mentioned Roger’s first steps were witnessed by her and one of her best friends Mary Rethwisch.

Those steps became the life steps of a compassionate, knowledge-seeking, lifelong learner, stir-the-pot, athletic, animal lover, BS degree in biology, good listener, Vietnam veteran, Trane employee, adult home run Trane softball player, rescuer of single mothers with eight children, healthy nutrition seeker, garden vegetable planter, flower lover, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, “natural” Christmas holiday lover, foot massager, saxophone player, lover of Patsy Cline, Frank Sinatra, and Willie Nelson, adult Harpers Ferry Hawks baseball player, fan and financial supporter of the Lansing Mudcats, Kee High Hawks supporter, St. Jude’s children’s research supporter, player of jokes, unusual dry sense of humor, great natural cook, weekly visitor to the food coop, daily visitor to Valley View Fitness, present at family time for passing, Rotary Club Member, owner of the RTG Window Company, salesperson for La Crosse Tribune, father of two sons and bonus father to eight children and grandfather to 14 grandchildren, oldest brother father figure to siblings, devoted nephew to uncle Ole, youth coach, a runner, a serious euchre player, loved his cousins - in particular his Dubuque cousins, financial supporter of family weddings and those that were less fortunate than Roger, and a Bud Light supporter.

Roger’s first education was accomplished by the natural hills and Mississippi River that encompassed the Harpers Ferry area. His formal education was in Harpers Elementary and High School, completing his senior year at Waterville High School in 1959. From all memories shared frequently, especially by Bill Boardman, their many shenanigans and the Waterville female classmates welcomed the Harpers great athletes and good-looking guys. According to classmates, the shenanigans continued after graduation at the Waterville Rainbow Garden Dance Hall.

Roger continued his formal education with a BS degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, where he graduated May 5, 1976. Roger accomplished this degree by attending day classes and working the third shift at Trane Company.

He was a patriot, having been drafted into the Army and serving in Vietnam from January 7, 1964, until January 2, 1966. He entered the duty to his country at the same time as one of his best friends, Bob Hogan. His story at that time of his life was a tear-filled and life-changing moment. Roger was a member of the Harpers Ferry Legion - American Legion Post 722 and VFW Post 5981 (Gustav F. Kerndt Post - Lansing).

Roger started his career at Trane Company in La Crosse, alongside his father “Keek” Valley. That career induced many lengthy trips from Harpers Ferry to La Crosse. He continued his 30-year career at Trane until 1990. While at Trane, Roger created a massive amount of friends and co-workers. This group included his Trane softball teammates. It has been said he hit many home runs to add to his already existing Harpers-Waterville stats.

Roger’s devotion and kindness to animals started at a young age. Due to his father Keek’s devotion and his mother Paula’s tolerance, the family home overflowed with animals. The basement was filled with a chinchilla business and many dogs that included Pepper, Spunky, Skunky, and their pet monkey Jocko, to name a few. This devotion continued on to Roger’s home in La Crosse that he shared with his wife Dorothy and two sons Tim and Matt. That home on King Street housed many pets, including Jigs and the bunnies, Doc and Higgins.

Roger became a single parent when, on April 1, 1990, his wife Dorothy (Wagner) Valley passed. It was at this time that Roger once again had a renewed vision of being a single parent after experiencing his mother Paula as a single mom. Several years later Roger was introduced to Marlene Imhoff Duffy, a single mother of eight. They were introduced by Roger’s sister Vicki Ann Valley, one of Marlene’s best friends, St. George classmate, and fellow Beatle Babe Basketball teammate. That was the start of an over 30-year relationship that turned into a marriage November 26, 2025. Their love of sports, music, children, intellectual conversation, animals, plants and gardens brought them together as a very loving, close couple.

Brought into this relationship along with Roger’s wife Marlene were five bonus sons, Brian, Nathan, and Damian Imhoff, and Dustan and Jordan Duffy, and three bonus daughters, Kendran (Imhoff) Sizemore, Kaylan (Duffy) Detanico, and Chandran (Duffy) Lapel. Roger also took on the pet dog Ruger, one of his favorites, and the pet kittens Tazz and Socks. His life was never the same.

There are not enough words in the English language to describe the life of Roger John Valley. Those here left to honor his legacy are his wife Marlene Imhoff Duffy; five bonus sons, Brian Imhoff, Nathan Imhoff, Damian (Janene) Imhoff, Dustan Duffy, and Jordan (Ricki) Duffy; three bonus daughters, Kendran (Jeff) Sizemore, Kaylan (Thiago) Detanico, and Chandran (Andy) Lapel; two sons, Tim and Matt Valley; grandchildren Akeela Jefferson (Jaren), Rylie, Dawson, and Ashlyn Imhoff (Jackson), Aliyah and Irelyn Ballard, Isaac Clime, Kenleigh Sizemore, Landry, Laine, and Larkin Lapel, and Sean, Joe, and Henry Valley; Wagner nieces and nephews; Sarah Barton and David Wagner; Valley nieces and nephews; Spinner nieces and nephews; Snitker and Strub nieces and nephews; Richardson niece; Moore nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law Carol (Wagner) Klingberg, Susan (Wagner) Houlihan (Lee Strub), and Robyn Moore; three siblings, Vicki (Tom) Spinner, Shirley (Greg) Snitker, and Rick (Lynda) Valley.

Fans and family already in the heavenly diamond include his wife Dorothy (Wagner) Valley; his parents Cletus “Keek” and Paula Valley; brothers-in-law Jim and Carl Wagner and Kerry Moore; sister-in-law Marianne Wagner; parents-in-law Carl and Mary Wagner and Earl and Kay Moore; brother Ronnie Valley; sister Nancy (Valley) Richardson; sister-in-law Sue Valley; nephews Ben Richardson and Brandon Tornstrom; grandparents Ed and Aline Valley and Pat and Mary Houlihan; and his pet fan club grandpets, Ruger John, Finnegan, Pilot, Rizzo, Watson (Watty), Sky, Wrigley, and Gary.

Urnbearers are Matt and Tim Valley, Brian, Damian, and Nathan Imhoff, and Dustan and Jordan Duffy. Honorary urnbearers are Sean, Joe, and Henry Valley.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.