Roger Lang

Roger Warren Lang, 72, of Whitewater and formerly of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, in Cape Girardeau, after a lengthy hospital stay and complications from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Roger was born in Cape Girardeau Aug. 5, 1950, to Bernhardt Lang and Marjorie Gohn. He graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School and went on to obtain a degree in architecture from Southeast Missouri State University. He also attended Gem City College in Quincy, Illinois, and then settled into the family business, Lang's Jewelers, where he worked until his retirement in 2012. He married first wife, Brenda Ward, and had one daughter, Erika.

Roger served more than 30 years in the Missouri Army National Guard and achieved the rank of staff sergeant.

He later married Judith Anne Jenkins Ventrella, and for many years they ran the jewelry store together. In their retirement, they enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling and doting on their granddaughter. Roger lovingly cared for Judy throughout her battle with breast cancer, until she preceded him in death in 2020.

He was active in many community organizations, most recently Cape Girardeau Elks Lodge, where he served in several different officer roles. He was also a member of Jackson Elks, American Legion, and in the past had been a member of Downtown Merchants Association and Old Town Cape. He was active in Girl Scouts when his daughter was young. He was a life member and benefactor of National Rifle Association. In his free time, he enjoyed woodworking and gardening, exploring the Missouri outdoors with his family and discovered a love of kayaking in his later years.

Roger was a man with a huge heart who did not know a stranger. He is known to many simply as "Santa," as he enjoyed portraying the character for local schools and organizations at Christmastime. In his tenure at Lang's Jewelers, customers knew the store as a place to hang out and share a story. Stories circulate of his generosity; he was a dear friend to many and always had time for a conversation.

Roger is survived by his daughter, Erika Lang (Jason Goben); stepdaughter, Vicki Ventrella-Meyer (Clint Meyer); granddaughter, Aubrey Meyer; sister, Pat (James) Fuhrmann; nephews, Thomas Karraker and Ryan (Danielle) Fuhrmann; niece, Stacey (Kyle) Dunn; and dear friend, Monica Gould.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Elks Lodge No. 639 in Cape Girardeau or to Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation. Please memo "Cape Nature Center" to ensure the contribution reaches the appropriate organization.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.