Col. Michael Abel Roddy, III

Col. Michael A. Roddy III (retired) passed away surrounded by family on January 25, 2024 at Madison Hospital, Madison, AL. He was 79 years old.

Mike was born in Omaha, NE on June 17, 1944 in St. Catherine Hospital, to Michael A. Roddy Jr. and Catherine Sullivan Roddy. Mike’s dad was serving in Europe when Mike III was born and did not meet him over a year later. 

Mike graduated from Lourdes Central High School, in Nebraska City, NE in 1962. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and was commissioned into the Army in 1966. He received a M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1975. 

Mike spent 30 years in the Army, rising to the rank of Colonel. His assignments included stints in Maryland, Germany, Vietnam, Korea, Iowa, New Jersey and eventually Huntsville, AL. He served as the Project Manager for the selection of the  9 mm pistol for all branches of the armed services and for the Javelin anti-tank missile system. Mike served as Commander of the Iowa and Joliet Army Ammunition plants as well as Commander, Depot Systems Command Support Activity –Far East, and Commander, Close Combat Armaments Center, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. 

Mike retired from the Army in 1996 and in 1997, he began work for Atlantic Research Corporation, which then became Aerojet, which then became Rocket. He left Rocket in 2014.

Mike became a very active member of the Huntsville Kiwanis Club, where he was famous, some would say infamous, for his promotion of the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfasts. He especially enjoyed participating in the programs that promoted reading for children. He volunteered with a group of Kiwanians to tutor young children in reading. He was also an active member of the AUSA and the Northern Alabama Notre Dame Alumni Association as well as the Society of War Veterans.

Mike was a model railroad buff and he was a regular volunteer at the Decatur, AL Train Depot Museum. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of model trains. He and other model train enthusiasts loved to create a model train display at Harrison Brothers Hardware in downtown Huntsville, AL during the Christmas season.

Mike was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Michael and Catherine Roddy, and a stillborn brother. He is survived by his close-knit family: John C. Roddy, Nebraska City, NE, Patrick and Joyce Roddy of Mahtomedi, MN, and their children Jared and Kristi Roddy and their children: Amelia and Michael Franklin Roddy of Minneapolis, MN; Erin and Jon Wiegand, of Menasha, WI; Logan and Katie Roddy, and their children, Noah Peterson and Sullivan Roddy of Mahtomedi, MN; Br. Bob Roddy, OFM Conv., of Mt. St. Francis, IN; Jim Roddy of Kansas City, MO and Susan and Jim Olson of Liberty, MO and their children: Nicholas and Amanda Olson and their children, Owen, Callan and Cameron Kay Olson of Overland Park, KS; Nathan Olson of Kansas City, MO, and Drs. Jessica and Raul Batra and their daughter, Maya Catherine, of Colorado Springs, CO. 

Mike was devoted to his family and a faithful friend to many. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. 

In lieu of flowers the family asks that Memorial Donations be made to the Senior Friars Fund of the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Consolation, 103 St. Francis BLVD, Mt St. Francis, IN 47146 or the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Foundation or the Historic Depot and Railroad Museum in Decatur, AL.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church from 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. with a Memorial Mass following at 11:30 A.M.