Roger D. LaBarge, age 78, of Nekoosa died Saturday August 18, 2018 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday August 24, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nekoosa. Rev. John Swing will officiate. Burial will be at the Village of Port Edwards Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM Thursday at Feldner/Ritchay Funeral Home in Nekoosa and Friday at church from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Online condolences may be expressed at ritchayfuneralhome.com.

Roger was born February 6, 1940 in Wisconsin Rapids to Alexander and Anna (Belknap) LaBarge. He attended Saints Peter and Paul Grade School and Assumption High School. He served three years in the US Army. He married Shirley Krall. Roger spent the majority of his working years at Nekoosa Papers, later becoming Georgia Pacific Paper Company. He was the head fireman in the Power Department until his retirement in December of 1996.

Roger and his wife Shirley loved animals especially dogs. They bred, trained and showed Belgian Tervuren starting in 1970. They either bred or owned over 70 Champions in Breed and Agility. Roger was very active in the Wisconsin Rapids Kennel Club serving as treasurer for many years and instructing classes for agility. He enjoyed doing demonstrations at schools and at the South Wood County Humane Society. He was also a member of the Great Lakes Belgian Tervuren Club, the Timber Ridge Dog Training Club and the South Wood County Humane Society. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting as well. He loved spending time on his eighty acres in Adams County. Roger valued his dog training and hunting friends.

Roger is survived by his wife Shirley, son Thomas, daughter Suzanne (Chris) Underwood, his grandchildren Justin Hutchison and Matthew Hutchison, great grandchild Journey and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and sister in law Marvin and Helen LaBarge, his sister and brother in law Bob and Ramona Dampier, his sister and brother in law Lois and Fritz Sultze, his sister and brother in law Faye and Fabian Konopacki and his brother in law and sister in law Ray and Gloria Sherburn.