Roger Paul Magnuson

Born on September 14, 1931, in Marinette, Wisconsin, he spent his formative years in Menominee, Michigan.

In 1940, due to his father’s work as draft engineer with Michigan Bell, his family moved to Marquette, where he attended Froebel Elementary, Howard Junior High, and Graveraet High School, graduating in 1949. At this juncture, sports – baseball, basketball, track and field, and skiing – dominated his interests.

A member of the Marquette Baseball Team, he fondly remembers playing against inmates of the Marquette Branch Prison, how they rooted for Marquette players and not their own, how one of them presented him with a pair of baseball shoes.

In 1950, he signed a pro baseball contract to pitch for a farm team of the then Boston Braves. Playing baseball in the backwoods of eastern Kentucky, however, cured him of any illusions about the sport. He soon realized that education offered a more promising future.

Roger Paul Magnuson

In 1954, he graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Liberal Arts. Two years later, because of the re-established draft during the Korean War, he was inducted into the Army. Following basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he was ordered to Fort Holabird, Maryland, the training center of the Army’s Counter-Intelligence Corps (CIC). After five months of intelligence studies and German language instruction, he received orders to report to a CIC facility in a suburb of Stuttgart, Germany. While there, he travelled extensively across Europe. In 1956, he was honorably discharged, completing his military service.

Returning to the University of Michigan in the same year, Roger acquired a teaching certificate and began a two-year stint as a social studies teacher at Albion High School in Albion, Michigan. At the same time, he did graduate work in a joint program of history and education, which lead to a Ph.D. in 1963.

In 1961, he accepted a summer teaching assignment at Montreal’s McGill University; in fall, a full-time, tenure-track position. Working his way up the academic ladder, he was promoted to full professor in 1971. At first specializing in the history of Western Civilization, he shifted his interests to that of Quebec cultural history from the seventeenth century to the present. “Quebec,” he said, “offered many opportunities to researchers because it is a French society that successfully resisted cultural assimilation in English-speaking North America.”

By the 1990s, he had published four books, including Education in New France, not to mention numerous scholarly articles.

On his return to Marquette in 2004, he found an outlet for his interest in history. Beginning in 2007, he taught courses for the general public at Peter While Public Library. Topics included espionage in World War II and the Cold War, a history of the GDR (East Germany), the origins of the English language, the impact of Gutenberg’s printing press, French-Indian relations in seventeenth century New France, and a cultural history of France. Roger was a Renaissance man. In addition to history, he loved studying languages and spoke German and French fluently. He was well read, well informed, and articulate but modest, winning the admiration of members of the special discussion group he and his partner belonged to in Marquette. At his home on Lakeview Drive, he also hosted monthly book reviews by members of the group, as well as, many of his own; in more recent years, presented jointly with his partner Beverly.

Among Roger’s hobbies were brook trout fishing, hiking, and water color painting. He was a member of the Lake Superior Art Association and a regular participant in its May exhibition as well as the Marquette Arts and Culture’s annual Winter Charm exhibition at Peter White Public Library. In 2019, a solo showing of his work took place at Travel Marquette.

He is survived by his loving partner, Beverly Matherne; his sisters, Barbara Avery of Marquette and Dinah Dupras of Menominee; his nephews, Scott Avery (Alan) of Fort Wayne, IN, Paul Avery (Delair) of Kohler, WI, Steven Avery (Leslie) of the Cayman Islands, and Quinn Barrios (Rebecca) of Gladstone, MI; his nieces, Torii Gwynn (David) of New Port Richey, FL, Natalie Cady (Todd) of New Holstein, WI, and Heather Begovac, of Green Bay, WI and long-time friend, Bill Emblom of Ishpeming, MI.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Sigrid Marie and Paul Frederick Magnuson, and his brother-in-law, Claude “Bud” Avery.

Roger greatly appreciated the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, witnessing its increasing caliber. He was also an habitue of Peter White Public Library and Northern Michigan University’s Olson Library. “Marquette,” he once said, “is blessed with a fine symphony, two libraries, and a stunning natural environment for year-round sports. I couldn’t think of a better place to spend my last years.” In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Peter White Public Library, or NMU’s Olson Library.

The family has entrusted the Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services, of Marquette, with final arrangements. The time and date of a Celebration of Roger’s life at Peter White Public Library will be announced at a later date.

Condolences may be expressed online at wwwfassbenderswansonhansen.com.Roger Paul Magnuson