Roger Billock

Roger Lee Billock was, at his core, a gentle giant of ingenuity and heart. He was the sort of man who could coax a smile out of even the grumpiest neighbor, and he carried that knack for warmth with him everywhere he went. Friends and family describe Roger as loving, generous, and always ready with a solution to any household problem—he famously said, “I can make that for cheaper,” and then proved it time and time again.

When Roger was born on February 21, 1939, the world was finding new ways to restore hope in the final years of the Great Depression. Grand Rapids, Michigan—his hometown—was a bustling center of furniture making, and across the nation, families turned to uplifting radio shows and the buzz of the 1939 World’s Fair to spark optimism. Even with global tensions on the horizon, particularly in Europe, people in Roger’s corner of the world clung to the simple joys of neighborhood gatherings, local sporting events, and Friday night roller rinks. It was in this environment of resilience and camaraderie that Roger arrived as the youngest of four children to Ernest and Gertrude (Hendricks) Billock.

From a young age, Roger could be found roller skating, playing on the railroad tracks, or tossing a baseball around the neighborhood. Raised on Union Street, he was the baby of the family, and his oldest sister, Norma, often stepped in to help raise him. Although money was tight, the Billocks valued togetherness above all else. By the time he enrolled at Creston High School, his natural curiosity had already emerged, hinting at the tinkerer he would become in adulthood. As a teenager, Roger began working at a local bowling alley as a pin-setter and also helped out at a roller rink—places that would shape both his work ethic and his personal life.

In fact, it was at that very roller rink where Roger met the young woman who would later become his wife. Life and love were bursting with promise, yet Roger also yearned to follow in his older brother’s footsteps and serve his country. Impatient to enlist, he left school before graduating, persuading his mother to sign a special consent form allowing him to join the United States Army at just seventeen. Stationed in Germany from 1956 to 1959, Roger lodged with a local German family and, quite memorably, shared a barracks with none other than Elvis Presley—although Roger didn’t much care for the famous singer’s celebrity presence. Still, the experience broadened Roger’s horizons and gave him the discipline he would carry forward all his life. While in the service, Roger obtained his GED, laying the groundwork for his continued fascination with electronics and engineering.

On November 20, 1959, Roger married his beloved sweetheart, and they settled into an apartment on Davis Street before eventually moving to McReynolds Avenue. Their family began to blossom with the arrival of three children: Kathy, Steve, and David. As a father, Roger was patient and easygoing, guiding his kids through both the joys and challenges of growing up. He introduced his sons to the interests closest to his heart—photography, woodworking, electronics—instilling in them the art of learning by doing. Not one to remain idle, Roger studied at night school to gain more advanced knowledge in electronics, always striving to refine his skills.

Over the years, Roger worked at RC Allen for a time before discovering his true calling as a Biomedical Technician at the Grand Rapids Hospital Council. There, he repaired countless electronic devices and quickly earned a reputation for being the go-to guy whenever something malfunctioned. Even after retirement in the early 1990s, local hospitals frequently called him back on special occasions to help troubleshoot stubborn technical issues. He was forever tinkering, fixing, and engineering solutions in his workshop, his garage, or even in neighbors’ homes—a neighborhood hero with a ready tool belt.

In 1964, Roger took on a grand project that would define the center of his family life: building his own house on Gaynor Avenue. Using the same unwavering determination he brought to all things, Roger completed his dream home where he would live, laugh, and eventually draw his final breath. In addition to his own house, he lent a hand in building several others in the area, driven by a profound sense of community and service. Roger devoted much of his free time to caring for his yard, crafting a lush vegetable garden alongside a soothing pond and waterfall. His love for collecting gadgets made yard sale outings with his wife a favorite pastime, and together, they expanded their trove of curiosities.

In later years, Roger’s focus turned more and more toward family. He embraced being a grandfather—and ultimately a great-grandfather—with open arms. Family events were always special, from the festive Christmas gatherings that crowded his living room with laughter, to the big birthday bashes each June in a local park. A self-described homebody, Roger rarely traveled far, preferring instead to host relatives in the place he loved best: his own backyard. When he did venture out, it was often for day trips around Grand Rapids or up north, relishing Michigan’s natural beauty. Even after his children left home, Roger’s love for animals led him to adopt and care for beloved pets, including his faithful dog, Jeepers, who remained steadfast by his side.

In his final days, Roger found both comfort and peace within the familiar walls he had built so many decades ago. Having lost his wife only three months earlier, he nevertheless carried forward the legacy of love they had shared, reflecting on the joys and challenges that had woven their lives together for so many years. On March 9, 2025, at the age of eighty-six, Roger passed away peacefully in the very home he had once constructed, leaving behind a blueprint for how to live generously and fix what can be mended—in both objects and hearts.

Today, friends and family remember Roger as a patient teacher, a devoted father and grandfather, and a kind neighbor who could repair just about anything. Whenever they wander down a hardware aisle and catch themselves saying, “I can make that for cheaper,” they will smile, recalling the man who taught them that resourcefulness and love are among life’s greatest tools. His presence remains in the humming sound of a power drill, in the gleam of a freshly tended garden, and in every thoughtful fix performed with careful, skillful hands. Roger’s story is one of resilience, devotion, and a can-do spirit that will endure for generations, reminding those who knew him to cherish family, tinker with possibility, and greet each day with an open heart.

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Roger Lee Billock, age 86, passed away peacefully at home on March 9, 2025. Roger was born on February 21, 1939 in Grand Rapids, MI to the late Ernest and Gertrude (Hendricks) Billock. He was also preceded in death by wife, Patricia Ann, just 3 months ago, as well as their grandson, Caleb Billock. Roger is survived by his children, Kathleen (Dale) Zylstra, Steven (Bonnie) Billock, David (Susan) Billock; grandchildren, Jason (Becky) Humes, Kristine (Kevin) Bowen, Steven (Megan) Billock II, Bethany (Kristopher) Banks, Chelsea (David) Thomas, Aubrey (Shane) Stephens, Tanner Billock, Landon (Maddie) Billock, Jennifer (Howard) York; 18 great grandchildren; and his beloved dog, Jeepers. This family would like to give a special thank you to Amber Nelson for her love and support for Roger. His funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 11:00 am at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, where friends may visit with family beginning at 10 AM. Interment will be in Rosedale Memorial Park. Memorials are suggested to Humane Society of West Michigan.