Julian Nelson Rogers

Julian Nelson Rogers of Port Washington, Wis., entered into eternal life on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at the age of 93 years.

He was the loving father of Janet (Paul) Owens, Paul, Deidre (John) Anheuser, Carla and Aileen; proud grandfather of Justin (Ania Kozlowska) Rogers-Cooper, Alyssa (Mark Blackwell) Rogers-Cooper, Chelsea (Hunter) Mills and Evan (Chelsea Lupica) Anheuser; and dear great-grandfather of James and Lyla Blackwell, Konrad Kozlowski-Cooper and August, Elijah and Aida Mills.

He is further survived by sister Patricia (the late Red) Odette, brothers Alan Foran and Llewellyn (Beverly), other dear family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marliss, sons Christopher and Gregg and brother Robert.

Born in 1931 in Boston, Mass., Julian, known affectionately to family and friends as “Jay,” grew up on the East Coast, spending his early years in Boston with his dear Granny Fenner (Estelle Blaise Fenner) and later in Portsmouth, N.H., with his mother and stepfather Hazel Fletcher and George Foran and younger sister and brother Patricia and Alan.

All moved back to Boston in 1948, where Jay served a year with the Massachusetts National Guard. He then enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1949, serving in active duty until 1955. After joining the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves in 1962, Jay would proudly complete 35 years of military service, retiring as senior master chief petty officer with Sector Lake Michigan.

While stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jay met a lovely young woman, Marliss Ann Coursin, in 1952, beginning a love story that would endure for the ages and become family legend. Marliss had taken a trip to the islands and was working with Hawaiian Airlines. The two fell in love and returned to Milwaukee to be married.

After residing in Cleveland, Ohio, where Jay was next stationed and where his daughter Janet was born, Jay and Marliss moved to Milwaukee, where Jay began his civilian career in security and fire prevention with General Motors Corp., retiring after 33 years with the Milwaukee and Oak Creek GM plants. His family grew with the addition of six more children, Christopher, Paul, Deidre, Carla, Gregg and Aileen, so seven in all. Over the years Jay and Marliss continued to celebrate their “Hawaiian love story,” returning to Hawaii and Waikiki Beach on anniversaries.

They moved to Port Washington in 1993 and enjoyed many wonderful years there at “Crestview Manor,” as did their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they would visit.

Jay’s last years were spent at Lasata Care Center in Cedarburg, for over a year with Marliss, who he lost in 2019, and then a few more years on his own. The family is forever grateful to the staff at Lasata and pastoral care volunteers with St. Joseph Parish who helped provide him care and comfort.

Jay was a man of deep faith, honor and character, shouldering his many family, work and military service responsibilities with dedication and stoicism. He had an offbeat sense of humor and loved his Artie Shaw and big band music, and he and Marliss were marvelous ballroom dancers. To say he was a collector of sentimental memorabilia might be an understatement, and his love of organization, writing and chronicling have provided his family with much joy and entertainment over the years. He will be deeply missed by all.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Parish, 1619 Washington St., Grafton, Wis. Inurnment at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Port Washington, Wis., will immediately follow the service. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the church from 11:30 a.m. until the service.

Memorials to the Van Ells-Schanen American Legion Post 82 are appreciated.

For online condolences, please visit www.muellerfuneralhome.com.