Roger Milton Waller, age 90, of rural Whitehall, died on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 in the Pigeon Falls Health Care Center in Pigeon Falls after complications from pneumonia.

Roger was born on December 30, 1926 in Taylor, WI to Alfred and Esther (Rogness) Waller. He played basketball for the Taylor High School graduating with the class of 1944.

Roger served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a proud veteran and a lifelong member of the Hanson-Lien American Legion Post #368 of Hixton-Taylor.

After the war, Roger went to college on the GI bill. He studied geology and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1949. As an adventurous young geologist, Roger spent the summer after graduation prospecting for uranium in the wilds of Saskatchewan, and found it!

Roger's professional career was in the employment of the United States Geological Survey from 1951-1987 working as a hydro-geologist specializing in ground water studies. He was stationed in cities and capitols across the United States including California, Arizona, Ohio, New York, Wisconsin, Alaska and also in Washington, D.C.

While living in Anchorage, AK, Roger met a young school teacher named Ruth Pariser from New York City. They married in 1955 and had three daughters.

His life in Alaska was exciting. He worked to bring fresh well water to remote Eskimo villages and did field studies of groundwater on the tundra for the Atomic Energy Commission. Roger led the USGS response to the great Alaskan earthquake of 1964 and his documentation was an important contribution to the historical record.

Roger was one of the first men to climb Mount Iliamna, an active volcano. He also enjoyed big game hunting, winter sports and was an avid amateur photographer.

After his retirement from the USGA, Roger moved back to Wisconsin where he spent many enjoyable years as a gentleman farmer, traveling the world and doing extensive research of local history and the Waller family genealogy. In 2004, Roger founded the Taylor Museum of History, located in the old Taylor Elementary School, to preserve the artifacts from his hometown.

Roger was a quiet man, perhaps due to the hearing loss he suffered as a youth. He wasn't the kind of guy who liked to go to parties,(unless it was a reunion!) Roger would rather visit with the "Old Timers" to hear them tell their tall tales, mow the lawn on a hot day with a cold beer or bring the trash to the dump and return with a treasure.

Roger was a generous and humble husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who was loved and respected by those who knew him. He gave selflessly to those in need and never asked for anything in return. Roger will be remembered by his good works and will be missed by all.

Roger is survived by his wife, Ruth Waller of Eau Claire; three daughters, Elizabeth (Chris) Zerby of Gaithersburg, MD, Janet (Bill) Butler of Whitehall and Nancy (Al) Waller of Minneapolis, MN; three grandchildren, Tim Butler of New York, NY, Rebecca Zerby of Savannah, GA and Andrew Zerby of West Chester, PA; four sisters, Bonnie Webb, Goody Pleasanton and Patty Stirton all of California and Gladys Fitzpatrick of Black River Falls.

In addition to his parents, Roger was preceded in death by three brothers, Clayton, Alfred Jr. and Naire and two sisters, Ellen Fischer and Mamie Livingston.

Graveside services with military rites will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Trempealeau Valley Lutheran Cemetery in rural Taylor.  Pastor Mara Ahles-Iverson will officiate.

A reception will be held at the Taylor Museum of History in Taylor following the service.

Memorials may be directed to the Taylor Museum of History, 420 2 ^nd . Street, Taylor, WI, 54659.

The Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall is assisting the family with arrangements.