Irons, Roger W.

Roger W. Irons

August 25, 1947 – September 2, 2023

Roger W. Irons, 76, Windber, passed away September 2, 2023, at Hilltop Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center. Born August 25, 1947, in Johnstown, son of the late William and Esther (Wissinger) Irons.

Roger was raised in the Belmont neighborhood of Johnstown, PA. he placed 4th in Plymouth’s National Troubleshooting Contest in 1964 while attending Johnstown High School, showcasing his mechanical ingenuity from a young age. He enlisted in the USMC at 17 and trained as an air traffic controller, the duties of which he performed with MATCU-62 in Vietnam during the siege of Khe Sanh and at MCAS Yuma, AZ. Roger developed a passion for gourmet cooking and entered the industry in San Diego, CA after serving the Marines at Yuma, AZ. There, he worked in and managed fine dining establishments including The Hotel InterContinental, Ten Downing Evening Fare, Bali Hai, and El Torito. His love for nature and skiing took him to the mountain towns of June Lake and Big Bear California, before Treasure Lake, PA. His ceaseless entrepreneurial spirit led him to found businesses such as The Sundance Saloon, One for All Promotions, and Precise Marketing Concepts. He created his own patch of heaven atop a mountain near Windber which he dubbed “Blue Sky Ranch”, where he raised his son and the two of them enjoyed the summer crickets, tree frogs, and sunsets.

Preceded in death by sister, Janice “Jan” Hershiser; nephew, William “Billy” Hershiser; great-nephew, Robert “Bo” Moschgat Jr. Survived by loving son, Broderick Irons and girlfriend Amy; daughter Rebecca “Becky” (Albright) and husband Robert “Rob” Madison; niece, Kristin Clemens; great nephews, Paul and Trey; great niece, Madelyn; and best friend, Dana Sklinar. Roger was a proud U.S. Marine veteran.