Obituary of Daniel LeRoy Rodgerson

Daniel LeRoy Rodgerson was born on April 28, 1963 in Sussex, New Brunswick. He was the third youngest of nine children born to William and Hazel (Kennedy) Rodgerson. He attended the Hampton Elementary School and Hampton Junior High in Hampton, NB. In Grade 11 he went to live with his adoptive family, Jack and Ellen Wark, in Rothesay, NB, where he attended the Rothesay Baptist Christian School graduating in 1981. Over the next ten years he worked a variety of different jobs, including Camp Director of Camp Tulakidik and working as a human service counsellor for C.O.I.L., Saint John. He traveled to work for the Hudson Bay Company in Cat Lake, Ontario and was also the first single foster parent in the province. He did a short term mission trip to Guatemala and El Salvador and toured with the Continental Singers in the U.S., Western Canada and Alaska. Dan began his post secondary education at Atlantic Baptist College in Moncton, NB graduating as valedictorian in 1991 with a BA in Biblical Studies. Dan began pastoral work as a student on a part time basis and continued on as full time pastor at New Canaan United Baptist Church after graduation. He served there for five years, during which time he met and married his wife of 19 years, Marilee Joy (Adams) of Gordonsville, NB. In 1995 he and Marilee moved to Sussex, NB where he worked for Opal and then served as Principal of Sussex Christian School from 1997-2000. He and his family then moved to Wilmore, Kentucky where he completed his MA in Clinical Counselling Psychology at Asbury Theological Seminary, graduating in 2003. From there they moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia as Dan opened a private practice in family and individual counselling. While there he also served in a part time capacity as assistant pastor at the Halifax Metro Wesleyan Church. In 2006 they returned to Sussex, NB to live and Dan went to work for Family Plus/Life Solutions in Saint John, NB as a marriage and individual counselor, maintaining his own private practice as well, until his illness in July 2010. Dan will continue to live on in the hearts of Marilee, his beloved wife of 19 years; his daughter Carissa; his sons: Josiah and Shiloh; his brothers: Billy of Saint John and Dean and his wife Anita of Salt Springs; his sisters: Tina Garnett and her husband Doug of Garnet Settlement, Jane Smith and her husband Ken of Grand Bay, Darlene Tobias and her husband Gary of Saint John, Rose Kinden and Duncan McGregor of Moncton, Star Rodgerson and Ray McDonald of Moncton, Sarah Smith and her husband Ray of Hampton and Rachel Knox and her husband Ron of Quispamsis; his sisters-in-law, Valerie Lewis of Halifax, Tanya Lawrence and her husband Larry of Florenceville, Twyla Adams and Kirk Stairs of East Coldstream and Beth Thomas and her husband Barry of Carlows, NB; his brother-in-law: Mitchell Adams and his wife Kelly of Bristol, NB; his parents: Jack and Ellen Wark of Quispamsis and Lloyd and Diane Adams of Gordonville, NB; as well as several nieces and nephews. Mr. Daniel LeRoy Rodgerson of Sussex passed away at the Sussex Health Centre on January 8, 2013 at the age of 49. He was predeceased by his infant brother Matthew and his sister-in-law Linda Rodgerson. Arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176), where visitation will be held on Friday, January 11 from 1-3 and 6-8pm. A service celebrating Dan's life will be held from Sussex Wesleyan Church on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 2:00pm. The interment will take place at Kirk Hill Cemetery in the spring. Donations made to the Dan Rodgerson Memorial Fund would be appreciated. www.wallacefuneralhome.com The Gracious Host By Dan Rodgerson I stood before the door unopened, A child, and yet, so broken. Would I be welcomed? My tattered rags were stained with grime, They seemed to be a part of me, Clinging to my very soul. I wondered, if the door was opened Would the Host accept me Or turn and leave me there in shame? It was a risk I must take; I heard this Host was different Than all the others I had faced. How would I know unless I knocked and waited for reply? My body trembled as I raised my hand... The knock, it echoed through the valley Although my effort faint And instantly the door swung open. There before me stood the Host, A smile upon His face And with arms extended welcomed me. I stepped forward through that threshold Into His arms and instantly I experience A wondrous transformation. His touch, it cleansed my very soul The rags and grime were gone, I stood no longer a broken child. The Host, he whispered in my ear, "I've been waiting, welcome home" I now was free... Free from the burdens of the past. Free to move forward with a song in my heart. Moving forward, but not alone. I did not know what lie ahead, Perhaps rocky trails, darkened paths But He was by my side. With a plan for my life No one else but You could see. You breathed life into me. Along this trail You never leave me But hold me close to Your chest. I feel each heartbeat, hear Your whisper Oh, Your presence gives such rest. With your last breath You loved me With my last breath I'll praise You