1942
Roger
2024
Roger Claude Shenkel
August 22, 1942 — June 5, 2024
Dr. Roger Claude Shenkel, 81, died on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Hope West Care Center. He was born August 22, 1942, in Lyons KS, to Ruth Tobias Shenkel and Dr. Claude Shenkel. Roger was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, friend and physician.
Roger grew up in Manhattan KS, where he blew up his high school chemistry lab, was the 11th man on a 10 man golf team and played on the basketball “hamburger squad.” He was also a passionate student of all things science. A quick wit and sense of humor were trademarks of his personality.
After graduating from Kansas State University, he attended medical school at the University of Kansas. While at Kansas State, he met Rita Mundhenke on a blind date. After a very slow courtship, they were married in 1966. Together they spent two months in Bolivia where Roger served as a medical missionary for the Methodist Church. Daughter Leslie was born in Spokane WA during Roger’s internship. Daughter Jill was born on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Whiteriver AZ, where Roger was working in the Public Health Service.
After a Family Practice Residency in Wichita KS, the Shenkel family of four moved to Grand Junction in 1973. He was a physician who loved his patients and their families and always had a soft spot for the babies he delivered. He was often heard saying that he had the “best job in the world.” He was the creative force in the genesis of Primary Care Partners, a forward thinking model that combined pediatricians and family physicians into a sustainable, independent model of medical care. Along with other medical and community leaders, Roger helped develop what came to be known as the Mesa County Model of Health Care, which was recognized as a national model, to ensure that all residents had access to quality healthcare.
He was involved in the establishment of the St. Mary’s Family Practice Residency and helped start the Family Practice Management Journal, a national publication. In 1994, he received the Walking Stick Award as the Colorado Distinguished Family Physician of the Year from the University of Colorado Medical School.
Scouting sparked Roger’s interest in the outdoors and he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at age 13. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, backpacking, cross country skiing, hiking, and running, often with his family. Roger and a friend worked tirelessly to reintroduce moose on the Grand Mesa in 2004.
Roger spent many summers, starting in his youth and extending into his retirement, at a third-generation family cabin in Spar City, near Creede CO. Close friendships and family memories have been made there over a lifetime.
Church was an important part of every community in which Roger lived. In 1974, the Shenkels helped start Redlands United Methodist Church, their church home for almost 40 years.
He was a family man who loved going to his daughters’ and later grandkids’ school activities. Roger was always prepared and involved, whether making pre-race pancakes or carrying hot chocolate on cold ski days.
The most important part of Roger’s family was his wife of 58 years, Rita. He would be the first to tell you that her love, support, and patience allowed him to do what he did. He may have been slow to pop the question, but the marriage endured.
Although he was slowed by two strokes in his final years, his humor and positive attitude stayed with him until the end. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth & Claude Shenkel. He is survived by his wife, Rita, daughters Leslie Shenkel (Albert Tseng) and Jill Shenkel Henwood (Kirk), grandchildren Isabel and Alex Tseng, and Kacy, Karsen and Kenna Henwood, and exchange student daughters, Marlene Fuglsang Hansen from Denmark and Tiina Palonen Roihupalo from Finland.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 22, 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 3940 27 ½ Road, Grand Junction CO 81506.
“Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.” George Barnard Shaw
Memorial contributions may be made to:
Colorado West Land Trust (1006 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501)
EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum (1400 N 7th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501, select Dr. Roger Shenkel Memorial Fund).
Roger grew up in Manhattan KS, where he blew up his high school chemistry lab, was the 11th man on a 10 man golf team and played on the basketball “hamburger squad.” He was also a passionate student of all things science. A quick wit and sense of humor were trademarks of his personality.
After graduating from Kansas State University, he attended medical school at the University of Kansas. While at Kansas State, he met Rita Mundhenke on a blind date. After a very slow courtship, they were married in 1966. Together they spent two months in Bolivia where Roger served as a medical missionary for the Methodist Church. Daughter Leslie was born in Spokane WA during Roger’s internship. Daughter Jill was born on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Whiteriver AZ, where Roger was working in the Public Health Service.
After a Family Practice Residency in Wichita KS, the Shenkel family of four moved to Grand Junction in 1973. He was a physician who loved his patients and their families and always had a soft spot for the babies he delivered. He was often heard saying that he had the “best job in the world.” He was the creative force in the genesis of Primary Care Partners, a forward thinking model that combined pediatricians and family physicians into a sustainable, independent model of medical care. Along with other medical and community leaders, Roger helped develop what came to be known as the Mesa County Model of Health Care, which was recognized as a national model, to ensure that all residents had access to quality healthcare.
He was involved in the establishment of the St. Mary’s Family Practice Residency and helped start the Family Practice Management Journal, a national publication. In 1994, he received the Walking Stick Award as the Colorado Distinguished Family Physician of the Year from the University of Colorado Medical School.
Scouting sparked Roger’s interest in the outdoors and he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at age 13. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, backpacking, cross country skiing, hiking, and running, often with his family. Roger and a friend worked tirelessly to reintroduce moose on the Grand Mesa in 2004.
Roger spent many summers, starting in his youth and extending into his retirement, at a third-generation family cabin in Spar City, near Creede CO. Close friendships and family memories have been made there over a lifetime.
Church was an important part of every community in which Roger lived. In 1974, the Shenkels helped start Redlands United Methodist Church, their church home for almost 40 years.
He was a family man who loved going to his daughters’ and later grandkids’ school activities. Roger was always prepared and involved, whether making pre-race pancakes or carrying hot chocolate on cold ski days.
The most important part of Roger’s family was his wife of 58 years, Rita. He would be the first to tell you that her love, support, and patience allowed him to do what he did. He may have been slow to pop the question, but the marriage endured.
Although he was slowed by two strokes in his final years, his humor and positive attitude stayed with him until the end. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth & Claude Shenkel. He is survived by his wife, Rita, daughters Leslie Shenkel (Albert Tseng) and Jill Shenkel Henwood (Kirk), grandchildren Isabel and Alex Tseng, and Kacy, Karsen and Kenna Henwood, and exchange student daughters, Marlene Fuglsang Hansen from Denmark and Tiina Palonen Roihupalo from Finland.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 22, 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 3940 27 ½ Road, Grand Junction CO 81506.
“Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.” George Barnard Shaw
Memorial contributions may be made to:
Colorado West Land Trust (1006 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501)
https://cowestlandtrust.org/donate/
orEUREKA! McConnell Science Museum (1400 N 7th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501, select Dr. Roger Shenkel Memorial Fund).
https://eurekasciencemuseum.org/donate/
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roger Claude Shenkel, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial for Roger Claude Shenkel
Saturday, June 22, 2024
10:00am - 12:00 pm (Mountain time)
First Presbyterian Church
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