Thomas Elwood Rogers

Thomas (Tom) Elwood Rogers Jr. AKA Bud
Age 82, of final residence Bennett, Colorado, passed away Saturday March 12th, 2022. A celebration of his life and memorial will be held July 10th, 2022, details to be announced at a later date.

Tom was born in Phoenix, Arizona on October 8th, 1939, to Thomas Elwood Sr. and Evelyn Ruth (Pool) Rogers. The family later settled in Colorado where Tom remained from the age of eight years old.

He is survived by his daughter Kerry Anne, her husband Mark Matthews and their daughters Caitlin and Amanda, Amanda's husband Nate Beals and their children Lyra and Donovan. Brother William Eugene Rogers and his significant other Jill Tilstra. William's children; daughter Samantha, her husband Aaron and son Vinny, William's son Brian, his wife Kelly and daughter Maisie. His son Dean Vincent Rogers and his children. The women who loved him over the course of his life: Carrolyn, Fran and Carol.

Tom worked as a mailer in the newspaper industry at The Denver Post. He later found a creative outlet as an art gallery and frame shop owner in Westminster. In addition, he held a booth at The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall where he swapped stories and merchandise and made many friends.

From his earliest of life Tom was a very artistic and inventive boy. He truly enjoyed his academic years as Art Editor, Annual Staff and leader in Art and Science Clubs. It was said of him. "His talents are as varied as Heinz's products." In 1956 Tom and several of his high school buddies originated "The Sabers of Denver Car Club". He was honored to be a founding member, Number 33, of this group that still exists to this day as one of the premier car clubs in the Tri State Region. Every year the club hosts the Tri State Auto Show and the Tri State Swap Meet, always maintaining their original goal of promoting safety. In addition to his love of cars, he had a gifted eye toward photography and film development, leading to the capture of many stirring sites and moments in print. He was an extremely talented artist with an imaginative edge. He created many original cartoon characters that became a part of his signature and now his memory.

Most of all, Tom loved "magnificent machines''. As part of his brainy charm he built and rebuilt so many vehicles that he once said he couldn't count them all. He poured his heart, talent and money (haha) into all of them. Lovingly laboring for hours on end over every minute detail, honoring each with era specific authenticity. Sometimes though taking a bit of creative liberty where he found it to add to the allure of the machine.

He had many passions and a zest for all things fantastical. He pursued many offbeat ventures with zeal. He thrilled at riding his varied motorcycles through the years. Adored hot air balloons with their fanciful envelopes and the idea of free floating among the clouds in a wicker basket. He had such adoration for man's ability to out pace gravity that he built his own ultra lite aircraft which he dubbed "Opteryx". He described the sensation of flight as "Beautiful", until he flew into the side of a mountain! HaHa Even that didn't stop him from living life with gusto, he never quit exploring new inventions and trends. He was just as enthusiastic about Rat Rods and Rock-a-Billy sounds as he was enthralled with all the carnivalesque designs of Steam Punk, which he exuberantly and masterfully crafted in his mind.

Dad, Grandpa Tom, Bud...
You were and forever will be "One of a Kind". Until we see you again...
We love you!