Roger G. Prince

Roger G. Prince, 86, of rural Hancock passed into eternal rest and peace on Nov. 13, 2025 at Willow Brooke Senior Living in Stevens Point WI from the residual effects of a stroke.

Roger was born on July 7, 1939 in LaSalle, IL to Frank G. Prince and Estelyne Holloway Prince. Before he reached school age the family moved to Joliet, IL. In 1954 his father purchased the Flying Dollar Ranch west of Hancock, which became the pivotal event in Roger’s life.

Roger graduated from Joliet Township High School in 1958, Olivet Nazarene College, Kankakee IL in 1962, and received a master’s degree in biology from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb IL, in 1971. He was a registered cytotechnologist with the Registry of Medical Technologists and an associate member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. With these credentials he worked in hospital laboratories screening for cancer. 

Roger was drafted during the Vietnam War but was subsequently exempted because he was teaching fourth grade in Parkersburg, WV. He served in the Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1971. 

In 1971 Roger made the decision to leave all other pursuits and settle on the farm, his first love. He farmed with his father until his death and then took over in his own right. In 1989 he served as chairman of the Central Sands Wind Erosion Committee which drafted legislation to encourage farmers to address the wind erosion problem in exchange for a property tax credit. He received commendations from the Wisconsin State Legislature and a number of soil and water conservation organizations for his dedication to this cause. 

Roger served on the Tri-County School Board in 1985-86, filling out the term of a member who had resigned. He chose not to run for election to the Board in 1986.

Roger married Sue Hollingsworth Thompson on November 5, 1977. They were blessed with three sons. Together they increased the size of the farm operation and transitioned sixty per cent of the acreage to certified organic production. 

The foundation of Roger’s life was his deep abiding faith in God. He accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord at the age of 14. He loved to share the stories from his life experiences that reflected God’s faithfulness to him. He distributed God’s Word through the Gideons International and handed out Bibles and Gospels of John anywhere he encountered people. In 1987 he participated in a short-term medical mission to Haiti.

Roger is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sue; his sons Jonathan (Amanda), Timothy (Darcy), and David (Janelle); ; a step-son, Dean (Kari) Thompson; grandchildren Dylan, Ethan, Conner, Caleb, Jordan, Melanie, Gabriel, Zoey, Nate, Ben Thompson, Emily Caves, and Aaron Thompson; and 7 great grandchildren; a brother, Marshall Prince, Winneconne, WI; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Benjamin.