Roger G. Kidston

KIDSTON, Roger G.
of Kalamazoo Attorney, public servant, poet, author, pilot, sailor, builder, gentleman farmer, Marine and friend, died Sunday, August 7, 2011. Roger was born June 8, 1932, to Arthur and Gladys Larder in Detroit MI, was raised and went to school in Salem MI, and earned B.A. and law degrees from the University of Michigan. He was an assistant prosecutor in Bay City MI and a Judge Advocate General with the United States Army before practicing law in Kalamazoo. In 1969, he was named the first chairman of the elected Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. In 1981, he and his associates set up Michigan's first tax-exempt public school foundation. He was the Kalamazoo Jaycees' Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1967; served as president of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and the Kalamazoo Arts Council; and was a member of the Kalamazoo County Republican Party, State Bar of Michigan, Kalamazoo County Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Judicature Society, Michigan State Arts Council Committee on Community Arts Councils, Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Michigan Week Foundation Cultural Activities Board; and was an adjunct professor at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and commanding officer of the Marine Corps Military Police Company in Grand Rapids. With his commercial pilot's license he flew to the Arctic Circle and many other locations. Roger was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bruce Clara Kidston and Alan Kidston; and niece, Sharon Kidston. He is survived by his children, Cheryl Kidston of Meridian, ID, Cynthia Keyes of Portage, Kevin Sally Kidston of New Hudson, MI and Emily Kidston of Kalamazoo; grandchildren, Jacob, Allison and Kayla Kidston and Justin Keyes; great granddaughter, Leah Keyes; brother, Brian Margaret Kidston; and sister, Margot Riechle; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his longtime friend and companion, Jeannette Buck. Services will be held Thursday, 12:00 at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick Street, where family will greet friends from 11-12 just prior to services. Interment with military honors will immediately follow at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to KWVA Wounded Warrior Fund, P.O. Box 51, Lewes, DE 19958