Rod was born in Timken, Kansas on April 28, 1944, and died on Christmas Day, 2011, in Bohol, Philippines. He is survived by a son, Michael Gisick, of Canberra, Australia, a daughter, Kathryn Ricker, of Holden, Ma., a sister, Donita Goosen, of Ellinwood, Kan., and two grandchildren, in addition to many good friends and former students.