Roger R. Jurk Jr., 72, of Sheboygan, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Aurora Medical Center, Sheboygan. He was born on October 6, 1953 to Roger Jurk Sr. and Beverly (Hahn) Steffen.
He graduated from Sheboygan South High School in 1971. He furthered his education at Lakeland College, receiving a Bachelor’s degree.
Roger was an avid fisherman. No matter where life took him, he was always waiting to get back on the water. He spent many summers filling coolers with his catches, and always looked forward to his yearly trip to Rice Lake with his closest friends. When it came to fishing, there were never enough hours in Roger’s day.
Roger was a devoted and generous person. He was always looking for ways to help those he cared about and took pleasure in providing for his family and friends.
He was extremely proud of his career at Kohler, which spanned forty-three years. He worked in various roles, but most notably as a project manager. His work took him all over the globe, with time spent on almost every continent. During his years-long project in China, he met and eventually married his beloved wife, Sally.
Family was undoubtedly the most important thing to Roger. Along with Sally, he especially delighted in time spent with his daughter, Abigail, and his son, Aaron. Roger loved to cook and grill, and frequently invited the family over for meals, when he could spend time telling stories and making jokes. Many times, there were so many people invited over for dinner that extra tables and chairs needed to be used. Although some viewed him as quiet, he was always ready with a quick line to bring a smile to anyone near him.
The same was true for his family in China. There were constantly pictures being shared between family members, both in Wisconsin and in China. No matter where he was in the world, Roger wanted to make sure he showed all of his family the experiences he was enjoying.
Roger’s love for life extended anything that he could grow. He was a green thumb and enjoyed gardening. He grew everything he could think of: vegetables, flowers, herbs, and plants. In his younger years, his garden at times took up half of the yard. Although it became smaller in later years, anyone who visited his house would leave with their hands or stomachs full of vegetables.
Growing up, Roger’s father, Roger Sr., owned a tavern and supperclub. Because of that, Roger quickly learned to love the social aspect of bartending. Over the years he was well known throughout the community as a friendly face that could be found behind the bar, ready with a joke and a mischievous smile. He was especially fond of Petek’s Tavern for many years and made many lifelong friends there.
For the last few decades, Roger alternated between living in Wisconsin and Shanghai, China. He loved to travel, and this allowed him to continue to do so after retirement. As with his American family, his Chinese family was very dear to him.
Roger is survived by his wife, Jufen (Sally) Liu; his mother, Beverly Steffen; his daughter, Abigail Jurk; his son, Aaron Jurk and their mother, Cathy Penney; and his sisters Pamela Rehm (Robert), Victoria Jurk, and Katherine Jurk (Tom Knox); many nieces and nephews; and his wife’s sisters, daughter, and granddaughter.
Roger was preceded in passing by his father, Roger Jurk Sr., and an infant daughter, Whitney.
Roger’s family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff of Sheboygan Aurora Medical Center, especially Nurse Hannah, for the care he received there.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Roger’s honor can be made to Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.
A Funeral Service for Roger will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Ballhorn Chapels Funeral & Cremation Care Center, 1201 N 8th St., Sheboygan. Family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service. The service will be available via livestream recording on the funeral home’s website for a limited time. Roger will be laid to rest at Lutheran Cemetery, Sheboygan.
Roger was an extraordinary person who touched many lives. He will be greatly missed.
To leave an online condolence message to the family, please visit, www.ballhornchapels.com.
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