Obituary: Roger Vincent Abramowski

Roger Vincent Abramowski of Brookston passed away March 11, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital. Roger was born Nov. 11, 1949, in Cloquet. He was 74 years and 4 months old to the day when he journeyed on to heaven to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mae Abramowski. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years and 3 months, Wanda (Bockovich) Abramowski. Roger had diabetes for more than 64 years, and Wanda helped him outlive and outperform the average childhood diabetic by many years. He is also survived by his foster children, Gladys, Jon and Tim; his brother Jim (Connie) Abramowski; sister, Edna Blanchard; brother and sisters-in-law Daniel (Jannine) Bockovich, Alva (Steve) Djerf, Elaine (Michael) Rosebery, Mary (Wayne) Nunley, John (Sandy) Bockovich, Bert (Bryann) Bockovich, and Andy (Betty) Bockovich; and many nieces and nephews.

Roger attended Staples Area Vo-Tech to be a machinist and tool and die maker, and Duluth Vo-Tech to study autobody and auto painting. Roger was very talented in those fields. Roger and Wanda entered a painted car in the Street Machine Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a man of many skills who invented hundreds of ways to improve things. He built bridges and many home improvement aids. He was also a talented woodworker, making seven super-durable rocking horses that are still in service well over 35 years later. He made all their living room furniture, many shelves, home décor items and much more. He made a whale-shaped coffee table as a special encouragement to his sister-in-law that had “Jesus Loves You” written in the glue under the tabletop and the support frame. His crowning invention achievement was a wood processor that could cut, split, and load a 3 ½ cord truckful of wood in an hour. This invention garnered the attention of manufacturers of similar, but not as effective, equipment. These are just the tip of the iceberg of this gifted man’s accomplishments. He made his living from various endeavors including, but not limited to, autobody repair and painting, fabricating and repairs of just about anything, logging, and with his Firewood Merchant business delivering cut and split firewood.

Roger was a very spiritual man, and read his Bible every morning and night, and cover to cover every year since being saved, wearing out several Bibles. When he was totally blind for two years, he listened to the Bible on tape.

Visitation: 12 p.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service Sunday, March 17 at Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St., Cloquet. A luncheon will follow the service. Burial will be at New Calvary Cemetery in Cloquet. To sign the guestbook and leave an online tribute, see http://www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com.