Roger French

July 17, 2016

Service Details

Roger L. (Rod) French, 79 passed away on July 17, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, July 29, 2016 at Des Moines Golf & Country Club from 12:00 to 3:00 pm with a program at 1:00 pm.

Rod was born and grew up in Wyoming. After graduating from high school, he moved to Texas to attend North Texas State. It was during his years in Texas that he got his start in heavy duty truck sales with Kenworth trucking. This would evolve into a 47 year career as a Kenworth Truck Dealer with dealerships in Des Moines, Omaha, Moline, Cedar Rapids and Lincoln. He retired and sold the company in June, 2015.

He was an avid sports fan, especially Iowa State athletics. He was a member of the ISU Foundation’s Order of the Knoll and a major donor to the Jacobson Athletic Building at Jack Trice Stadium. He provided the lead gift for the Rod & Connie French ISU Athletic Academic Center and was the founder of the Iowa State Conservation Education Center in Missoula, Montana. He was named Iowa State’s Favorite Alum in 2003 and received the ISU Alumni Association Honorary Alumni Award in 2010. He was a major supporter of ISU Hockey. He was also a lifetime member of The Fiesta Bowl Committee.

In addition to athletics, he was a longtime supporter of Link Associates and Variety Club of Iowa serving as Honorary Telethon Chair in 1977-1978.

Rod is survived by his wife, Connie; his son, Roger, and daughter, Karen; grandchildren, Allison (Robbin) Tegeler and Michael; great-granddaughter, Ella; Connie’s children, Noel (Jodi) Brdicko and Tracy (Alex) Moore and grandchildren, Nick and Owen; Kellie (Preston) Hinkle and children Tanner, Austin and Grace; and sister, Elizabeth (Harold) Finnel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Leiton and Dorothy French.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rod’s name to Link Associates. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com.

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