Roger Lee Echelmeier
Roger Lee Echelmeier died peacefully on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Roger was born February 6, 1939 in St. Charles, Missouri to Verna Blase and William Gustav Echelmeier.
His father tragically died by a lightning strike when Roger was almost 4 years old. Roger graduated Francis Howell High School at 17, and went on to a Mechanical Engineering degree from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO. Roger worked at McDonnell Douglas helping to design military jets and manned space capsules for Apollo missions.
Roger started the Roger L Echelmeier Company in the late 1960s, as a manufacturer’s representative for cooling towers and pumping systems for many of the large buildings you see in St. Louis and parts of Missouri and Illinois.
Roger had passions for worldwide travel, racquetball, flying and skiing. This is expressed in his two boys and three grandchildren, who all love to travel and ski. Roger was also a private pilot, flying around St. Louis and the Midwest in his Cessna 172.
Growing up without a father, Roger endeavored to be the best father he could be, and was always focused on his wife and boys, from travel to soccer games to rock climbing weekends.
Roger is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy Echelmeier (Wood) and their two sons Christopher and Gregory Echelmeier. Christopher and Myrna Ramos had Roger’s first grandson Ian Echelmeier who is 22 and attends the University of Colorado at Denver. Chris and his wife Ivete Liliensteins live with their sons Lukas and Reid Echelmeier, ages 12 and 10, in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Funeral Services will be at St. Anselm Parish Chapel (in the Parish Center)
530 South Mason Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Visitation will be at 2:00.
Funeral Mass will be at 2:30 on Tuesday April 2nd.
Please join us after Mass for appetizers and cocktails between 4:00 and 6:30pm at
Bishop’s Post
16125 Chesterfield Pkwy W
Chesterfield, Missouri 63017
Donations can be made in Roger Lee Echelmeier’s honor to the Wounded Warrior Project at
Very sorry for your loss. In reading his life story, he lived an incredible life that will continue through you Chris and your brother. It is obvious he cared about you both deeply and wanted the best for both of you. My sincere condolences to both of you, and your mother, who has lost this life partner. May God give all of you strength during this time to come together and cherish the time you all had with him.
Chris, very sorry for your loss. There are no good words to say at this moment. Loosing a family member is like loosing some of our own history, but keeping the good memories can comfort our hearts – stick to the special moments you had. All love and prayers from us!
Roger was one of my husband’s favorite cousins. Having no brother, he loved visiting and playing baseball with Roger. More recently Roger and I were trying to get our genealogy together.
My sympathies to Nancy and the boys. He was so proud of you all
I was sadden to hear of Roger’s passing. We shared the same last name just spelled differently. I enjoyed Roger reaching out to me. My family name was originally spelled the same as his. Actually I got the name through marriage. Always wonder if the families are connected way back. I enjoy his posts and his comments on mine. My heartfelt thoughts and prayer are with his wife and family. I really appreciate Chris reaching out to me.