Roger "Reggie" Owen Wojahn

Roger "Reggie" Owen Wojahn went to rock the big ole jukebox in the sky on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Reggie graced the world with his presence on a warm summer day on the 17th of August, 1957 as the youngest boy of Avis (Gaustad) and Elmo Wojahn. To say Reggie shined from the moment he entered this world, is an understatement. He grew up on East Twin Ridge in Houston, MN spending his days enjoying and working on the family farm until he graduated from Houston High School. Shortly after graduation he set out for California to explore and see what life outside Houston had to offer. Soon after, he would become a logger and eventually running his own business (J & J Tree Service named after his sons John and Jesse), climbing & trimming trees for many years before eventually working at UW-L in Food Service. He rode his bike to work rain, snow or shine. Before he retired, he was unloading stock from the big Semis at UW-L into the coolers and storage areas on campus. He loved having his own 'dock' and all the truckers loved him back. They often gave him praise for having such good music playing while they unloaded.

Reggie married Cindy Gaines (French Island) at the Stone Church near Houston on July 4th, 1981 (divorced in early 90's) and went on to have two sons in his image, John Owen Wojahn (1983) and Jesse Martin Wojahn (1984), which they raised on the family farm near Houston and where he taught them how to be a Wojahn man, in his own unique style.

Reggie would later fall in love with Julie Ott, his lifelong partner. They met at Chub's Pub in La Crosse, WI after he parked in her driveway to go in for a cheap tap beer. Julie asked, "who the hell is parked in my driveway?" and that's when he started to hover to try and get to know her. He asked her for a haircut but didn't like the one she gave him, so he had it fixed by someone else. The rest is history, and they got the privilege of spending 35 exciting, challenging, extraordinary and silly years until his passing.

Reggie was a character through and through. He was a boxer in High School and very proud of that. He loved running a skidder & his chainsaws, he loved music & telling jokes, he loved playing pool and having a stiff drink, he loved floating the river in his houseboat and he loved all his animals (especially his pet pig). He liked to tinker in the shed and fix things. He showed his sons how to snowboard at the Family farm years before it was cool or as safe. He was a Chevy man and liked to do the wrenching when he could. He loved driving fast just to show up a bit late, he liked to gamble and got good at losing but he was stubborn, so he kept at it. He liked the Vikings but loved the Packers and when they weren't playing, he rooted for his numbers. He always wanted to see everyone around him laughing, joking and smiling. Life was his party everyone else was just living in it. He used to say, "I got everything done that I did today." He was the most laid-back person that would try to find humor in anything and everything to keep it light. He is now celebrating the ultimate retirement with a permanent Happy Hour in the sky.

He is survived by his lifelong partner: Julie Ott, La Crosse, WI; ex-wife: Cindy Gaines, Houston, MN; His Sons: John (Lindsey Buxengard) Wojahn, Houston, MN and Jesse (Abby) Wojahn, La Crosse, WI; Julie's Daughter Heather (Brandon) Haag, Trempealeau, WI; siblings: Gary (Marlys), Fridley, MN; Jean, Houston, MN; Steven, Rochester, MN; Allan, Houston, MN; brother-in-law: Mike Rediske, Hokah, MN; Uncles and Aunts: Myra (Rodney) Damm; Luella (Gerald) Peterson; Verdale (Marcia) Gaustad; Donald (Myra) Gaustad; Darryl Gaustad and 6 Grandchildren: Amara, Treyden, Emery, Hudsyn, Lucy, Berklee and by many other family members. Reggie was preceded in death by his parents: Avis and Elmo Wojahn; Uncles and Aunts: Paul (Emy) Wojahn, Arlene (Lindy) Skolberg, Carl (Esther) Wojahn, Raymond (Alice) Wojahn, Helen (Robert) Schroeder and Harry Wojahn; sister: Mary Rediske; nephews: Chad Wojahn and David Wojahn.

A celebration of life will be held at The American Legion Post 52 in La Crosse, WI on Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 1 – 4 P.M.