Rodger Dwaine Van Wyhe

Rodger Dwaine Van Wyhe, 85, of Eau Claire, passed away on January 19, 2026 at Lake Hallie Memory Care under the care of Heartland Hospice.  He was born on December 23, 1940 in Iowa City, IA to Richard and Rowena (De Weerd) Van Wyhe.

By trade, Rodger was a welder, spending his career welding milk tankers. By hobby, he was a carpenter—crafting wooden holiday displays to delight the neighborhood. For Rodger, every holiday was an event, and he embraced them all with enthusiasm.

The highlight of Rodger’s life was helping to raise his grandsons. He loved being able to teach them everything he knew, coaching them not only in practical skills, but also in the value of hard work. His hands were rarely still. He spent countless hours tinkering in the garage, fearlessly taking things apart—even when he wasn’t quite sure how they worked—trusting that he’d learn along the way. This is one of his many legacies; the courage to try.

On May 20, 1994, Rodger was united in marriage to Laura Rushing in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. It was a wedding so full of love that the entire small town turned out to celebrate with them. From that day on, their life together was marked by laughter, partnership, and a shared ability to find humor in even the hardest moments. They laughed often and deeply, making life a little lighter simply by walking through it together.

Rodger will be remembered for his busy hands, goofy spirit, and the lasting lessons he passed on to those he loved most.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Rowena Van Wyhe; his daughter, Amy Van Wyhe; and his siblings, Geneva Rushing, Richard Van Wyhe, Phyllis Johnson, and Joanna Van Wyhe.

Rodger is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Laura Van Wyhe; his daughter, Holly Ravelle; his grandsons, Ryan Cote and Tim (Isabelle) Cote; his sister, Shirley Rae; along with many other nieces, nephews and cousins whom he loved dearly.

Per Rodger’s wishes, a cremation will take place and his family will gather privately for a Celebration of Life in the summer of 2026.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rodger Dwaine Van Wyhe, please visit our floral store.