Obituary of Rodger O. Bakken

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Rodger Olaf Bakken, beloved brother, uncle, cousin, and friend passed away unexpectedly on May 17th at his home in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He was 76 years old. 

He was an avid golfer, photographer, lover of music and dancing, spending time with family and friends and traveling, and recently took up birding.  Rodger offered his time and energy to numerous charitable organizations.

He was born November 6, 1946, in Chicago and lived in Rockford Illinois until he graduated from Guilford High School Class of 1964.

Rodger moved to Hilton Head in 2016 from his previous home in Charlotte, NC.

He enlisted in the Navy and trained as a sonar technician in San Diego, was accepted to officer’s candidate and NESEP at the University of Louisville and he served on minesweeper in Vietnam. 

He studied photography and cinematography at Southern Illinois University, owned his own photography business and worked in computer technology at several businesses across the United States. Most recently he worked as a realtor. 

Predeceased by his parents Ralph and Agnes Bakken, Rockford, Illinois, Rodger is survived by his brother Reed Bakken, Oregon Illinois; sister Lynn Bakken, Littleton Colorado; niece Mary Landerholm, Littleton, Colorado, and two grandnephews, Rockford, Illinois. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests you to donate to the Audubon Society at  www.audubon.org or Sea Turtle Patrol of Hilton Head at www.seaturtlepatrolhhi.org 

Rodger’s cremated remains will be inturred to the sea in a private ceremony. 

There will be a Celebration of Life on June 24th from 5:30-7:30pm at Hilton Head Plantation House.