John Joseph "Yash" Rogenski, age 80, of Maryville, IL, born September 8, 1942 in Granite City, IL, passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2022 at University Manor Nursing Home in Edwardsville, IL.

From early on, John was a worker.  He often made money to buy his clothes for the coming school year or whatever he felt he wanted or needed. After high school, he began his career working for Flavor Kist Cookies and Crackers as a delivery truck driver in Illinois and Missouri.  He later became a union bricklayer through a friend of the family and would spend a lot of time practicing laying bricks in different forms, tearing them down and starting over in the basement of his childhood home.  John always had some type of a project going and was good at repairing cars and mechanics in general.

John had a mind for business and loved a good deal. When the opportunity arose, he and his cousin, Patrick Dillon, bought the former Northgate Restaurant in Collinsville.  Another business adventure became available that intrigued John of making nets used for commercial fishing and sports.  He quickly learned that trade, expanded the business, and built a new factory on Hwy 111 called Nichols Net and Twine.

His hobbies were fishing, hunting, and raising animals but most of all he loved spending time with his grandchildren.  He was a wonderful husband, father, "Pop Pop", brother and friend who will be dearly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Jerome and Wanda Mae (nee Bisto) Rogenski; a brother and his wife, Jerome and Mary Lou Rogenski; and a brother-in-law, Ronald Elliott.

He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Charlene "Char" (nee Elliott) Rogenski, whom he married July 19, 1975; two daughters:  Jennifer (Douglas) James of Creve Coeur, MO and Christina (Timothy) York of Edwardsville, IL; three grandchildren:  Henrietta and Beatrice York, and Alexandra James; a brother, Bro. Joseph Rogenski O.F.M. of St. Louis, MO; a sister, Sr. Gabriella Rogenski C.D.P. of Alton, IL; a sister-in-law, Darlene Knecht of CA; a step-daughter, Michelle Shatsar of Collinsville, IL; four step-grandchildren:  Catherine (Chad) Clark, Stephanie (Troy) Thompson, Elizabeth (Leonard) Arnold, and Cynthia (Todd) Syveretson; 10 step-great-grandchildren:  Evan, Emmerson, Addison, Avery, Harper, Gilbert, Cody, Chase, John and Levi.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2022 at Barry Wilson Funeral Home in Maryville, IL.

Funeral mass will be at 1 p.m. at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Maryville with Father Rob Johnson celebrant.  The mass will be live streamed https://www.facebook.com/MotherofPerpetualHelpMaryville

Burial will be in Buck Road Cemetery, Maryville.

Memorials are suggested to Mother of Perpetual Help or The Nature Conservancy and will be received at the funeral home.