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DR. ROGER ALFRED KINGSLEY
Born: Dec 21, 1943
Date of Passing: Jul 16, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryDR. ROGER ALFRED KINGSLEY
Roger Kingsley entered life eternal on July 16, 2026. His memorial service will be held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 200 Dalhousie Drive, Winnipeg, on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.
Roger is survived by his beloved wife, Carol McPhaden. He is also survived by his sons, Andrew, Paul, and Michael (Cora), his stepson Michael McPhaden (Christine), his grandchildren, Lily, Koren, Adam, Dakotah (Julian), Akira (Hope), Gretchen (Hayden), Jack, Dorothy, and his great-grandchildren, Connor, Cali, Auriellia, Lydia, Vivian, River, and Kaya. He was predeceased by his father, Lieutenant Alfred Kingsley, who was killed in Belgium in 1944; by his mother, Margaret (Gretchen) Kingsley; by his great-grandson Ares; by his stepdaughter Lisa; and by Carol's parents, Jack and Pat McPhaden.
Roger was born on December 21, 1943, at Stratford General Hospital, Stratford, Ontario. He grew up in Tavistock and Kitchener, Ontario. In 1962, he entered the University of Waterloo, where he earned his BA and MMath degrees. He taught at Waterloo for three years after attaining his MMath. In 1970, he moved with his family to Winnipeg to study and teach in the Computer Science Department at the University of Manitoba. In 1974, he graduated with his PhD, earned under the late Dr. Ralph Stanton.
After earning his final degree, in 1975 he moved to The University of Winnipeg as Assistant Director of Computer Services; several years later, he was promoted to Associate Director. During his first year, he taught casually for the Mathematics Department; in his second year, he became a regular member of that department. He continued in the Computer Services Department until 1988, when he became University Secretary; he continued in this position until 2006. In 2006, he stepped down as University Secretary, but continued in the Mathematics Department until his retirement in 2008. Following his retirement, he continued to teach casually for the Mathematics Department for several more years.
In addition to his academic career, Roger had two outside interests which were very important to him: his church and Scouting. Roger was involved with his church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) for almost his entire life. He was a Sunday School teacher while he did his undergraduate degree. After he and his family moved to Manitoba, he served on the church council of Fort Richmond (now Epiphany) Lutheran Church; for his entire three years on the church council, he served as its chair.
In the 1980s, he served on the Professional Leadership Committee of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Synod, and later on the national committee with the same responsibilities. This lasted until 1990, when he was elected to the Synod Council of the now Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario (MNO) Synod. He fulfilled this role until 1998.
In 1999, he was elected to the National Church Council (NCC) of the ELCIC, as a lay representative of the MNO Synod; he remained a member of NCC in this capacity for six years. During this time, he was a member of the Audit Committee for one year, and its chair for five more years. In 2005, he was elected Vice-President of the ELCIC for a four-year term.
In 2009, he stepped down as Vice-President and was elected to the church's Court of Adjudication, the church's "supreme court". He chaired the Court for his entire term. In 2013 he retired from active service to the church: after that, he enjoyed retirement with his beloved Carol.
Roger was also actively involved with Scouts Canada. After he completed his formal education, he became a Beaver and Cub leader at La Verendrye Public School. He later transferred to the Cub pack at St. Peter's Anglican Church; at the same time, he also served as District Commissioner for Tuxedo District. Several years later, he was appointed to the Manitoba Provincial Council, and chaired several of its committees.
In 2001, Roger was appointed to the Board of Governors of Scouts Canada for a three-year term. As with the church, he was wanted on the Audit Committee; he was a member for two years and the chair for his third year. Following his retirement from the Board, he served for another three years as a member of the national Honours and Awards Committee, finally retiring from an active role in 2007.
After retiring from the church and from Scouting, Roger continued to enjoy a wonderful life with his beloved Carol. This later life was highlighted by frequent travel to Toronto to visit Carol's son, and by much foreign and domestic travel.
Carol played the bagpipes: she played for three years in the Halifax Tattoo; Roger went to Halifax with her twice. Roger and Carol enjoyed travelling throughout Nova Scotia on these trips.
Carol and Roger made several trips to Edinburgh so that Carol could play in the Edinburgh Tattoo. These trips always included wonderful driving tours of England and Scotland and visits with Carol's English cousins.
The high point of Roger's and Carol's time together, a result of Carol's piping career, was a trip to China, where she played with a composite prairie band at the Beijing Tourism Festival; this trip ended with a three-day visit to Xian to see the famous Terracotta Warriors.
Roger and Carol were bitten by the travel bug well before their trip to China. This resulted in a number of sea and river cruises in Europe and North Africa.
In 2017, Roger suffered a moderate stroke; this meant that he was no longer able to have a driver's licence. As a consequence, Roger needed to go to church with Carol, so he joined St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, where he remained a member for several years. Missing his Lutheran roots, Roger rejoined Epiphany in 2022, remaining a member there until his passing.
Roger indeed enjoyed a wonderful and fascinating life with Carol.
Anyone wishing to remember Roger is encouraged to support one of the charitable organizations dear to his heart: the Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Assiniboine Charitable Foundation, Scouts Canada Manitoba, or Epiphany Lutheran Church.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 25, 2026
Condolences & Memories (5 entries)
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Perhaps one of the lesser known, but ever-so-appreciated of Roger's contributions to Lutheran ministry was his involvement with the fledgling Epiphany Children's Centre (originally Ft. Richmond Lutheran Church Nursery School). He served on the Board for many years and as Chairperson for several of those years. As you may imagine, there were all kinds of start-up and growing pains issues to tackle, with personnel and personalities to navigate, which Roger did with aplomb. And when there were accomplishments to celebrate, or a Christmas party to schedule Roger, with Nancy's resourceful hospitality, once again led the way. - Posted by: Sister Val Sander (fellow Lutheran) on: Aug 08, 2026
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I first met Roger in 1962 when we were both first year students at the University of Waterloo and enrolled in a four-year mathematics program for honours students. This class was not very large, so the students in it got to know each other very well. We were all nerds, of course - think about The Big Bang Theory on TV. Roger was a big man, had an appetite to match and an aversion to bland food. Since the food selection at the U of W at that time was rather uninspired, we were often at restaurants such as: A&W (Roger particularly liked a combination of the Grandpa Burger with the Teen Burger), The Charcoal Steakhouse, and the now defunct Castle Inn, among many others. It was during our very informal and, thanks largely to Roger, rollicking get-togethers at these places that we were able to devise our strategy for survival in the very rigorous mathematics program. I remember Roger as a very bright, quick witted and inventive person. During his time at the U of W, he placed very well in the extremely arduous Putnam Competition, one of the most prestigious university-level mathematics competitions in the world. One of Roger’s traits I most admired was his low tolerance for pomposity, something that is never in low supply at a university. Whenever someone senior to him began putting on airs, Roger would quickly devise a means of deflating that individual. I particularly recall a certain very distinguished professor beginning to become overbearing, when Roger got down on the floor and kissed his foot. It worked. In 1970 Roger joined an exodus from Ontario, led by Prof. Ralph Stanton, to the University of Manitoba, where he graduated in 1974 with his PhD. He then went on to have a successful academic career at the University of Winnipeg. Roger played a very important part in my life. Not only did he help me survive my undergraduate years, but he was an usher at my wedding and unexpectedly provided me with a glass of gin to help me get through the ceremony. Indeed, in 2017 he came to Ottawa at his own expense to attend the 50th anniversary of that ceremony. He was godfather to my second child, a role that he took very seriously. He was also a close friend during my 31 years at the University of Manitoba. I will miss you, Roger. I like to think you in heaven eating Grandpa Teen Burgers and listening to Edith Piaf. - Posted by: Hugh Williams (Friend) on: Aug 03, 2026
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We were saddened to hear that Roger our cousin passed away. We are sending our condolences to Carol, Andrew, Paul, Michael and Michael McPhaden and their families. Ours thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time. Roger's life was rich and full. He will be warmly remembered and missed by his family. Janet Kalbfleisch and Chaim Fachler - Posted by: Janet Kalbfleisch (Cousin) on: Aug 02, 2026
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So very sorry to hear of the passing of our cousin Roger. Our prayers are with Carol, Andrew, Paul and Michael and their families. Roger had a wonderful life and will be missed by his family. Julie & Kevin Pelling - Posted by: Julie Pelling (cousin) on: Jul 26, 2026
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I remember Roger when I was younger. He was a towering man! Always had time to talk at our family meals. Then lost contact when he moved to Winnipeg. Last time I talked with him was at our Kalbfleisch family reunion in Tavistock. My condolences to the family. - Posted by: Doug Kalbfleisch (Cousin) on: Jul 25, 2026