ROGINA, Father Walter On Wednesday, December 1, 2016 Father Walter Rogina, a retired priest of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, died peacefully after a long illness, at Brookdale Fountaingrove Home, Santa Rosa, where he resided since 2013. Father Rogina was born on August 23, 1948 in Santa Rosa, California. He was baptized, received his First Holy Communion and Confirmation at St. Rose parish, Santa Rosa. He received his early education at Wright Elementary School from 1954 to 1960 and Cook Junior High School from 1960 to 1963. He graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1966. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College from 1966 to 1968 and later for one year, 1978/79. From early childhood Father Walter wanted to be a groceryman, a nurseryman and a priest. He achieved all three. He worked for FoodCity/Fiesta market in West Santa Rosa as a checker and manager from 1970 to 1979. In 1968 he worked for Imwalle gardens and there gained an appreciation and love for flowers and plants. He began to grow them on the home property. He entered a garden display in the Sonoma County Fair as an amateur and won "best of show" beating out all the professionals. His victory was frowned upon because of his amateur status which prompted him to obtain his nursery license. For over thirty years he entered garden displays in the annual Fairs in Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Marin, San Mateo and Alameda counties and also at the State Fair in Sacramento receiving numerous awards and acknowledgements for his speciality plants - Poinsettia, Easter Lily's, Begonia and Hydrangea. In 1978 he began to discern the possible pursuit of becoming a Catholic priest. In the Fall of 1979 he entered St Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park, California to began his studies in Theology for the Priesthood as a Seminarian for the Diocese of Santa Rosa. Upon completion of his Theology studies he was ordained to the Priesthood by the late Most Reverend Mark J. Hurley, Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa at St. John the Baptist Church, Napa, California on April 13, 1985. His first assignment as a Parochial Vicar was to St. Bernard's parish, Eureka where he served for two years. He then served at St. Vincent de Paul parish, Petaluma from 1987 to 1993 and at the Cathedral of St. Eugene,Santa Rosa from 1993 to 1998 as Parochial Vicar. He was named Pastor of Sts. Philip and Teresa parish, Occidental and Bodega where he ministered from 1998 to 2004, refurbishing both churches. In August of 2004 he was appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist parish, Healdsburg where he served until his retirement in August 2013. Fr. Walter in his life, but especially as a priest was dependable, an excellent administrator and organizer who was able to get things done. He really was a kind and gentle spirit, although one knew where they stood with him. He had a great smile and a wonderful sense of humor who liked to play tricks on people. He touched the individual lives of the many who he encountered in his ministry as a priest. May he rest in peace. He was preceded in death by his father Walter and his niece Niki. He is survived by his mother, Mary and his brothers Matt (Debbie) and Ed (Wilma), his nephews Johnthomas, Matthew Jr, EJ and Steven and his nieces Kayla, Jenny and Danielle and a number of grandnephews and grandnieces. Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 10:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church (398-10th Street, Santa Rosa, CA, 95401). Interment will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery-St. Teresa's Lawn (2930 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404). LAFFERTY & SMITH COLONIAL CHAPEL (4321 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409) will provide visitation hours on Monday, December 5, 2016 from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with a Vigil Service commencing at 7:00 PM in the main chapel.