The Rev. Roger Lauren Tappert was born in Highland Park, Michigan, in 1941--six months before Pearl Harbor.  He graduated from Wellesley High School in Massachusetts in 1959.  He earned a B.A. from Capital University in 1963.  He  graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, in 1967 with a B.D. and in 1972 with a S.T.M. Roger passed away peacefully the afternoon of January 3.

Rev. Tappert served four Lutheran parishes: St. Peter, Trenton, OH; St. John, Sunman, IN; Ebenezer Lutheran, Indianapolis, IN.  He served St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Fountain Square, Indianapolis, IN, for 21 years.  While serving St. Mark's, Rev. Tappert also taught at IUPUI for 20 years teaching Composition, Research Writing, Grammar, Speech, and Interpersonal Communication.

While teaching and preaching, he counseled hundreds of clients.  He specialized in helping clients understand their sexuality focusing specifically on members of the LGBT community.  He performed a commitment ceremony for a lesbian couple.  He wrote poetry, hymn texts, and many articles.  "This Is a Joyous, Happy Day," a hymn text, was published in the Missouri Synod's children's hymnal "All God's People Sing!"  Rev. Tappert created theme hymns and graphic, stage artwork for several Conventions of the American Lutheran Church, Ohio Synod, in his early years.

He is survived by friends, Tony Adrian and Jerry Garmon, whose families were lifelong friends of his.  His larger group of dozens of friends and former parishioners were his family.  His brothers, Paul in Michigan and Philip, a missionary in France, survive him.  His parents, Ed and Mary, are deceased.

We would like to send a special thank you to the nurses on the fifth floor of the Simon Cancer Center ICU who provided Roger with compassionate care, comfort, and understanding throughout his battle with cancer.

A memorial gathering will be held at a later date

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