Leah Rogers
February 15, 1956 ~ September 6, 2022
Leah D. Rogers, 66, of Mount Vernon passed away Tuesday September 6, 2022 at the Hallmark Care Center in Mount Vernon. Memorial Service: 11:00 am Saturday September 24, 2022 at the Stewart Baxter Funeral and Memorial Service in Mount Vernon. Leah's brother, William Allen will officiate. A luncheon for friends and relatives is planned after the service at the funeral home. Stewart Baxter Funeral and Memorial Service of Mount Vernon is assisting the family.
Leah is survived by three siblings, Bill (Sandy) Allen, Bob (Sue) Allen, Linda Deardeuff; nieces and nephews, Andrea Allen, Kirk Allen, Gavin Deardeuff and Tara Peterson, Allison and Mitch Strong, Amy and John Clark, Melissa Allen and Tom Spencer; great-nephews and great-niece, Miles Ballard, Sam Deardeuff, Lincoln Deardeuff, and Brinley Clark.
Leah Denise (Allen) Rogers was born February 15, 1956 in Boonville, Missouri. Her family lived in Glasgow, Missouri for the first four years of her life. After a year in Baltimore, Maryland, the family settled in Columbia, Missouri, where Leah attended all years of school through college, attending the University of Missouri where she received her bachelor's degree in Anthropology in 1978. She then attended graduate school at Michigan State University where she completed her Master's Degree in Anthropology in 1985.
Leah married Clark Rogers on September 4, 1983 in Hastings, Michigan. Together they worked on archaeology projects in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, and all over the state of Iowa. Clark and Leah settled in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, in 1992.
Leah had a consulting business in archaeology and architectural history from 1990 until 2001 when she joined Tallgrass Historians L.C., in Iowa City as a partner. In 2017, she purchased and renamed that company, Tallgrass Archaeology LLC. Leah completed over 70 nominations of various properties and sites to the National Register of Historic Places along with one property listed as a National Historic Landmark. Through the years Leah served as chair of the Association of Iowa Archaeologists and the Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission.
Leah was preceded in death by her husband, Clark; parents Bill and Madge Allen; mother-in- law Luella Rogers, brothers-in-law Dwight Deardeuff and Terry Rogers; and niece Kristen Allen.
Memorials may be directed to Fur Fun Rescue (furfunrescue.org) at 229 Badger Road, Lisbon, IA 52253 or the dog rescue of your choice.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon
So very sorry for the loss to her family and friends. In addition to her many contributions to archaeology, history, and historic preservation, Leah was simply a very fine person. Lynn M. Alex, colleague.
So sorry for your loss. I worked with Leah on some of her archaeology digs, and considered her dear friend. Gary Dalecky
I started working with Leah in 2003 on the Council Bluffs Interstate System project. Her firm was a subconsultant to HDR, and she immediately impressed me with her knowledge and professionalism. I kept recommending her company for more work based on the quality and cost of the efforts, but also for looking forward to talking about cultural resources with her. I am glad she was recognized with a well deserved lifetime achievement award this summer. She will be missed dearly…
In the short time that I knew Leah, she was always generous and was deeply committed to learning and developing the public’s knowledge of our past. Deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.
My deepest condolences to Leah’s family and friends. Leah was one of those amazing archaeologist–historians who could do almost anything. The cultural resources field in Iowa will not be the same without her contributions. Above and beyond that she was just an outstanding human being and will be missed.
Wishing Leah’s family peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts. Leah will be missed.
With thoughts of peace and courage for you,
Iowa has lost a stalwart leader in historic preservation and a good friend.
Q: How did you meet Leah?
A: I met Leah at the Mt.Vernon dog park in June 2020. I had just retired and moved back to Mount Vernon with my dog Teddy. Every morning Leah & Buddy would stop by the park on their way to work. Teddy and Buddy became buddies, while Leah and I also got to know one another. She really enjoyed Buddy and Teddy playing together and becoming each other’s protector. (Teddy is 110 lbs and 5x the size of Buddy) Leah was a great teacher for me and the others, telling us stories and history of the different houses and buildings in town and history of surrounding towns.
I wintered in California in 2021, and when I returned, Leah informed me of her cancer diagnosis. Leah was stoic and brave and always so positive during her treatment. She did not want much help, if any, from any of us dog park owners. She continued to come to the dog park until she could no longer walk up the incline.
I was fortunate to have been able to see Leah shortly before her last hospitalization. She was still positive but very weak.
I will miss her tremendously.
Cathy Hufford
Leah Rogers-what a wonderful human being she was and leaves an incredible legacy in the history of Iowa research. My deepest condolences.
I met Leah while a fellow commissioner on MVHP Commission. Her comments and information shared were always thoughtful and instructive. Her kindness extended to her several rescue dogs. She will be greatly missed. My condolences to her family and all who knew her. Kay Johansen
We are sorry for your loss. We hope today brings some peace. Thinking of you.
A friend, colleague and fellow woman-owned business collaborator. Her strength, integrity and intelligence were second to none. I will miss our conversations and working together in the field. ❤ I wish I had the words to express… 😔
That was a wonderful service and she was honored by so many friends, family, and collegues. I was not able to be there unfortunately. I was lucky to have known her when I was young as we passed through town. She would pay attention to me and entertain me knowing I was the youngest at the time. I remember sitting in her room and she would play her 45 records that she had. Two of which I remember, “Georgie Girl” and “Downtown”. Asking me which one I liked the best. We would play them and sing and sometimes dance. She would also take me downstairs where all the big kids “toys” were. Usually footballs, basketballs, you know, the brothers stuff. We would find something to do. I wish we would have stayed in touch and visited more. We need to have an Allen family reunion so I can get to know my cousins better. I was so impressed by her life and work. It makes me wish I would’ve tried harder to keep in touch. What everyone has said about her brought me back to when I was little and we would visit. She obviously has been the same, loving, giving, fun person all her life and continued to be that way. I love you my dear cousin Leah. May you rest in peace. Love, Leeanne Allen Schulze St. Peters, MO