Roger J. Ames

    Born on September 13, 1940, Roger Jesse Ames grew up on a family farm outside of River Falls, Wisconsin.  After serving for four years in the United States Marine Corps and graduating from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1969, Roger moved to Pine City to work for the Pine C0unty Dept. of Social Services.  He and Candice Anderson were married in 1970, and shortly thereafter Roger began graduate studies at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, completing an M.S.W. in public policy administration in 1975.  Roger spent the rest of his career at the East Central Regional Development Commission beginning in 1976 and retiring as that organization's Executive Director in 2000.  Throughout his career, Roger made it his personal and professional goal to be, in the words of Congressman Jim Oberstar, "a servant of the neediest among us."Roger's later years were spent fishing, reading, gardening, enjoying nature, taking walks with his dog and spending time with family, especially his two grandchildren.  Roger died at North Memorial Medical Center on September 13, his 69th birthday, from heart failure after a lengthy illness.Roger is survived by his wife Candice, his sons Andrew Ames and his wife Leah and their children Evelyn and Henry, all of Pine City, Alexander Ames of Pine City, brother Kenneth Ames and his wife Marilyn of St. Cloud, and mother-in-law Ruth Anderson of Pine City.  He is also survived by neices, nephews, other relatives and friends.A visitation with reviewal will be held on Saturday, September 19th from 2:00 ~ 4:00 p.m. at the Swanson Funeral Chapel.  A private family Memorial Service will held in St. Cloud with interment in Birchwood Cemetery.