Roger De Langhe

STERLING – Roger R. De Langhe, 82, of Sterling, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.

Roger De Langhe was born and raised in Tielt, West Flanders, Belgium.

At the age of 18, toward the end of World War II, he enlisted in the New Belgian army and served under General Patton.

Roger and his parents emigrated to the United States in June 1949. They settled in Moline, where he worked for John Deere Plow Works. He and his parents became United States citizens. He married Irene Van Thorre on Nov. 18, 1950.

Roger and his family moved to Sterling in 1957, when he went to work for RB&W in Rock Falls. He worked there for 9 years, after which he worked for Frantz Manufacturing for 25 years, retiring in 1991.

Roger and his uncle, Rene De Langhe, co-founded the Quad City Bicycle Races in 1964, in East Moline. The following year, the races moved to Seventh Street in Moline, and were held there for many years. In recent years, the races moved to Rock Island and are considered a classic, and one of the largest races of its kind in the United States. In 2010, the races will be celebrating 46 years, and Roger was a main part of them from the beginning. Roger had been an official for over 25 years at the Northbrook Velodrome, and traveled there every Thursday during the summer months. The Roger De Langhe Trophy Race, held every August at the Northbrook Velodrome, “honors the legendary Roger De Langhe, an icon of the Midwest race scene. Since his emigration from Belgium years ago, Roger has worked tirelessly to promote bike racing throughout the region, culminating in the addition of the Quad Cities Criterium to the USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar.”

Survivors include his wife, Irene; their children, John (Andrea) DeLanghe of Perry, Ga., Dennis De Langhe of Sterling, Maria De Langhe of Warner Robins, Ga., Ronda De Langhe of Dixon, and Sondra Meyer of Sterling; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Family prayer service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the McDonald Funeral Home, 1002 12th Ave., Rock Falls, followed by the Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Church, Sterling, with the Rev. Donald Ahles, celebrant officiating.