Rodney Uptergrove

Rodney Brent Uptergrove was born on October 14, 1948 to Paul and Georgia Uptergrove in Versailles Missouri.

While growing up, he and his paternal grandmother would regularly spend the day fishing and enjoying a picnic lunch together while his dad worked delivering produce to restaurants and resorts around Lake of the Ozarks. When his family moved to Springfield, MO from Versailles in 1965, Rodney attended Parkview high school his senior year and connected with a local dental laboratory through the COE program. He honed his skills as a dental technician in a Chicago, IL dental school in the late 1960’s.

He married Janet Carol Clayton on March 6, 1970 and they relocated to Houston, TX, where daughter Ellen Michele was born. Rodney and Jan shared their love of live music through rock concerts, experiencing Jimmy Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, The Who, AC/DC and The Rolling Stones among others. Floating, hiking and camping with Ellen on Ozarks rivers gave Rodney and Jan the opportunity to help found the Ozark Mountain Paddlers float club in the 1980s. Many memorable trips were shared with unforgettable friends on the water. Rodney especially loved antiqueing adventures around the Springfield area with Grandma Rose Clayton in the 1970’s.

Rodney was a Master Technician at fabricating cast metal frameworks that appeared more like a piece of jewelry than a dental prosthetic. His natural gift for fabricating both full and partial dentures for over 45 years gave thousands of people around the Ozarks the priceless gift of smiling at the world again.

Rodney always put the needs of others first, sharing himself in every way. He lived and loved all people with genuine friendship and respect. Although Lake of the Ozarks held a very special place in his heart, he loved all of the Ozarks, his family and his friends, appreciating and enjoying all who shared their lives with him.

He is survived by his wife Janet and daughter Ellen, his brother Roger Uptergrove, brothers-in-law Pat and Ken Clayton and sisters-in-law Kay Myers and Theresa Kincheloe. Rodney’s surviving nieces and nephews include Kim, Kathy, Paula, Troy, Jamie, Justin and Jodie on the Uptergrove side and Brian, Allen, Alex, Kevin, Dennis, Sarah and Joe on the Clayton side. He cherished his family above all else, and loved them unconditionally.

Arrangements are under the care and director of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri.

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.