Roger L. Boerner, age 96, died October 10, 2025 in Mequon, Wisconsin. He was born November 8, 1928 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Alfred L. Boerner and Elizabeth K. Boerner. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Joan (Hendy) Boerner, his brother Alfred E, Boerner, his brother’s wife, Ethel C. Boerner and other relatives. His great grandfather, C. Friedrich Boerner, was a founder of Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
Roger is survived by his daughters Susan C. Boerner, and Ellen L. Boerner; by Susan’s children, Kelly Riordan and Michael Riordan; by Ellen’s husband Gregory Schlichting; by the four children of his brother, Alfred: Jane B. Kelly, Ann B. Barber, David Boerner and Scott Boerner, and their families, all of whom live in Canada; and by numerous other cousins, nephews and nieces.
Roger grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduating from Shorewood High School in 1946, Univ. Wisconsin (Madison) 1950 and Wisconsin’s Law School in 1952. He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Military Police (1952-1954) and taught the Uniform code of Military Justice at an Army school in Oberammergau, Germany.
Roger was a founder of the Wisconsin based law firm of Reinhart Boerner, Van Deuren, s.c. and actively practiced there until he retired in 1997. He was an excellent lawyer whose skills contributed to the growth of his firm and the prosperity of his clients. Roger served his community as President of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Chairman of the Committee that built the first Art Museum Addition, and as an officer and Board member of The Nature Conservancy (Wisconsin), and The Ice Age Trail. He was also a board member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the boards of many other educational and non-profit organizations. He was complicit in the founding of Riveredge Nature Center, a critical part of the creation of The Ice Age Trail and a constant advocate for the Boerner Botanical Gardens, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, named after his father. He was an avid and constant reader of non-fiction and sketched in watercolor.
Roger and Hendy traveled widely to learn about other cultures and watch the birds. There are few places in the world they did not visit, binoculars and field guide in hand. They owned a home in Tucson, Arizona where, in later years, they spent the winter with friends. Roger loved life, his family and his friends. He wished to be remembered with a smile.
At Roger’s request, there will be no funeral or memorial service, Burial services will be private, Contributions, in your discretion are suggested to The Friends of the Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Dr, Suite 1, Hales Corners, WI; The Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 North Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI.,53202, Riveredge Nature Center, P.O. Box 26, Newburg, WI 53060 or any cause of your choice.