Roger Gladwin Bland

It is with profound sadness that the family announces the passing of Roger Gladwin Bland, born December 28, 1939, in Los Angeles, California. Roger is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kathryn Poling Bland; his children, Mark Bland (Julia), Erin Bland Lyon (David); his brother and sister, John Bland and Mary Bland Ayers; his grandchildren, Joshua Lyon (Katherine), Jacob Lyon (Grace), Abigail Lyon Diemer (Joseph), Conrad and Johann Bland; and his great-grandchildren, Aletheia and Azariah Lyon.

Our dad, husband, brother, and grandpa was a wonderful person of great character, integrity, and quiet strength. He had a witty sense of humor, was brilliant, kind, generous, and thoughtful, and accomplished so many things in his long life. He was devoted to his family and completely selfless, always putting others' best interests before his own up until the very end. He gave his last many years to providing excellent, gentle, patient, and loving care to our mother in their home as she declined from Alzheimer’s. We deeply grieve his passing and miss him sorely.

Roger was a resident of Mt. Pleasant for almost 60 years. He and Kathy moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1967 after he completed his Ph.D. in biology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. From 1967 until 2000 Roger was a professor of biology at Central Michigan University, where he taught and researched extensively. His specialty was entomology, the study of insects, a field where he published widely at the national level. One of his textbooks is still the standard-bearer for entomology courses at universities across the country. A highlight of his long career were the overseas academic sabbaticals he spent with his family in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Australia and the Spanish Canary Islands.

Roger was a keen amateur astronomer and built his first telescope at age 16 in Los Angeles. He later brought the large telescope to Mt. Pleasant, where Mark and Erin spent many summer nights gazing through it at the moon, planets, and stars. Our dad took immaculate care of our house and 20 acres and was most proud of his many beautiful flower beds, plants, and expansive vegetable garden. A lasting legacy for all of us Blands is his extensive work on our family genealogy, a true passion of his for the past several decades. Roger printed numerous volumes covering his immediate family and our English, Irish, Scottish, and Spanish ancestors going back to the 16th century, each volume carefully researched and full of photographs, documents, and historical references.

We will commemorate Roger's amazing life at a memorial service at 11 am on July 10th at the Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. We welcome your presence, receiving guests one hour prior to the service. Following the service, a Luncheon will be held in the Lincoln Reception Center (attached to the Funeral Home).

Roger (and Kathy) recently established two local charitable funds in their names through CMU and the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation:

Roger and Kathryn Bland Biological Research Endowed Award: CMU Link

Roger and Kathryn Bland Community Impact Fund: Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Link

Words are not enough to convey our gratitude and love for all that he gave us during his extraordinary life. “Well done, good and faithful servant…” Matthew 25:23