Dr. Roger Alfred Christgau died in his farm home outside of Austin, Minnesota on Friday, October 5, 2012. Dr. Christgau was born on September 9, 1931, in Crookston, Minnesota, where his father taught and coached at the Northwest School of Agriculture.
During the war, Dr. Christgau attended school in southwest Minneapolis. After his graduation from Southwest High School in 1949, he attended the University of Minnesota for three years before his passion for aviation and flight prompted him to enlist in the United States Air Force in 1952.
During his Air Force career he served in Korea, Formosa, and Okinawa. From 1955 to 1957, he served as an aerial combat instructor in F-100s at Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas. His skills at aerial combat maneuvering (ACM) were widely recognized in the Air Force, and he was selected to compete in Air Force fighter pilot competition several times during his Air Force career. In July of 1957 he suffered life-threatening injuries in an aviation accident in Pipestone, Minnesota. After two years of recuperation and numerous surgeries, he entered the University of Minnesota Medical School and began a successful family practice in Minneapolis in 1964.
He was a member of the staff at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and highly regarded for his tireless and dedicated care for his patients. In 1978, in pursuit of his continued passion for flying, he purchased a rare and historic P-51 Mustang fighter plane named "Sierra Sue II." The plane saw combat during World War II and was a major attraction at Midwest air shows. "Doc," as he was known in aviation circles, was a popular figure on the air show circuit and earned a reputation among air show fans and fellow warbird pilots for his expert and daredevil flying. He was the central figure in the book "Sierra Sue II: The Story of a P-51 Mustang," published in 1993.
After his retirement from the practice of medicine, in 2005 he moved from his home in Indian Hills in Edina to Mower County, to operate and manage the family farm. He will be remembered by many for his aviation and professional accomplishments. His family and friends will remember "Rog" for his generosity, audacity, quick wit, loyalty, strength and courage. They will recall his passion for history, his intellectual prowess for the complicated and the mundane, his gentle demeanor, his love of speed, and his devotion to family. He is an irreplaceable son, brother, uncle and friend.
He leaves behind his grieving family, hundreds of friends, and thousands of airshow admirers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus Christgau and Alice Erickson Christgau, and his older sister Kathleen Devaney. He is survived by his brother John, his sister-in-law Peggy, as well as two nieces, three nephews, and five grand nephews and nieces. The family requests those interested in making contributions do so in Dr. Christgau's name to the charity/ cause of their choice. .
Published in Star Tribune on October 14, 2012
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