Roger Licari

A public visitation will be held from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.  Friday, February 19, 2021 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Biwabik followed by a mass with Fr. Peter Lambert as Celebrant which will be limited to a maximum of 50 attendees.  A public celebration of life will also be held at 1:00 p.m. at Vi’s Pizza in Biwabik.   Current COVID mandates including wearing masks and social distancing will be followed.   Interment will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik.  Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert.

Roger John Licari, 84, of Biwabik died Friday, February 12, 2021 at Essentia Health – Virginia. 

He was born on November 17, 1936 to John and Viola (Fondie) Licari in Biwabik.  Roger graduated from the Horace Mann High School, Class of 1955.   He furthered his education at Bemidji State and St. Cloud State having earned a degree in education.  Roger was united in marriage to Janet Maki on June 6, 1959 at St. John’s Catholic Church.   Roger taught in Okanagen, WA for three years and Wilber, WA for two years before taking a teaching position in Biwabik where he taught for thirty-three years until his retirement in 1996.  Roger served as the Athletic Director and coached nearly every sport.  He was a member of the Aquanuts Coffee Club, The Italian-American Club, served as the first Athletic Director on the Board of the MN High School League, the Knights of Columbus, and the St. John’s Catholic Church.  Roger was proudly inducted into the MN Athletic Directors Hall of Fame (2003) and Mesabi East Hall of Fame (2016).  Roger enjoyed golfing, curling, fishing, hunting, and boating.  He took the greatest pleasure in spending time and entertaining his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Janet; two sons: Reggie (Cindy Koreen) Licari of Hibbing and Regan Licari of Bloomington; one grandson, Grant Licari of Elk River; a brother, Fr. Jonathan “Ronnie” Licari of Collegeville; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert; in-laws: Jack and Jennie Maki; and his parents.