Roger Vorst

LOS ANGELES - Roger Vorst, 58, of Los Angeles, CA and formerly of Kalida passed away suddenly on November 16, 2016.  He was born July 10, 1958, the 10th of 12 children to the late Paul J. and Dorothy (Schnipke) Vorst.  Roger was a project administrator for AECOMM, formerly URS in Los Angeles.  He did many amazing things in his short lifetime and worked in many different capacities in several locations.  He started his career like many of us in the family at Vorst Plumbing and Heating in Kalida.  He worked for several years at UPS in Columbus, then taught school in Shizuoka, Japan and Brownsville, TX and worked at Universal Studios in Florida.  Roger loved to travel and has been to many countries; living in such places as Phoenix, AZ, Burbank and Hollywood CA.   Some of his highlights include climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, an African safari in Serengeti, biking from Salzburg Austria to Prague Czech Republic, hand gliding in Nepal and survived the avalanche disaster in Nepal in October 2014 which claimed the lives of over 40 fellow hikers and guides.  Roger visited all 50 states and has hiked many national parks as well as to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 9 times.

Roger is survived by his partner, Dan Grutzmacher of Los Angeles, CA; siblings: Marianne (Roger) Miller of Ottoville, Norbert (Rosemary) Vorst of Springfield, IL, Angela (Tom) Unterbrink of Findlay, Jane (John) Duling of Columbus Grove, Ron (Carol) Vorst of Sitka, AK, Dan (Lynne) Vorst of Kalida, Ruth (Alan) Gerdeman of Kalida, Eileen Vorst of Upper Sandusky, Marlene (Gene) Schmitz of Glandorf, Paul T. (Kelly) Vorst of Westerville and Gary (Lisa) Vorst of Kalida; nieces and nephews: Steve (Toshi) Miller, Amy (Bruce) Eickholt, Dave (Brenda) Miller, Jeff (Lora) Unterbrink, Lisa Unterbrink, Rick Unterbrink, Kim (David) Herriott, Adam Unterbrink, Jason (Rachael) Duling, Joshua (Heather) Duling, Jill (Andrew) Kunica, Justin (Erica) Duling, Kevin (Abby) Gerdeman, Amber (Buck) Rosengarten, Kyle (Lyssa) Vorst, Andrea (Bob) Morman, Greg (Abby) Schmitz, Julie (Chris) Dotson, Brian Vorst, Jenny Vorst, Michelle (Riordan) Burch, Tracy (David) Johnson, Micah (Colleen) Vorst, Josiah Vorst, Austin Vorst and Jasmine Vorst, many whom he took with him on his adventures to the Smoky Mountains, Washington D.C, The Grand Canyon, Hocking Hills and other vacation spots.  He is also survived by 31 great nieces and nephews and one on the way.

A memorial service will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 10, 2016 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Kalida with Fr. Mark Hoying officiating.   Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016 at LOVE-HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Jackson Twp.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice or the National Park Conservation.  Condolences may be expressed at:  www.lovefuneralhome.com