Photo courtesy of Adams Funeral Chapel - Charleston
Aug 2, 1947 - May 24, 2019
I met Roger in the late 1960s in Princeton, through one of his best friends Roger Durham, who told me of his passing.I'm a couple of years younger, but Roger D. and I still get together and play guitar. I'm starting to miss old friends and have been trying to reconnect with folks. Roger was certainly one of the good guys. Although it's been awhile, I'll still be praying for the family.
Bruce Brown
January 08, 2023 | Rossville, GA | Friend
Jeane, sorry for your loss. Roger was a great man, I enjoyed working with him. Even on his worst days, he always tried to make the best of it. He told me some great stories. I will miss him.
Matt Robinson
May 30, 2019 | IN | Friend
Roger, I enjoyed several years working with you and have thought of you over the years after you left the business... May God bless you and your family during this difficult time...may you find eternal peace
Daniel Haughee
May 30, 2019 | Charleston, IL | Coworker
Jeane, David and Kevin, We are so sorry for your loss. We are thinking of you and remembering how much Roger loved you.
Jan and Thomas Hawkins
May 29, 2019 | Belchertown, MA | Friend
Cherished memories of days spent fishing at his uncle Bill's lake, time spent on the historical Giffin farm and numerous float trips on the Current River in Southern Missouri.
Annette and Johnson
May 29, 2019 | Teasdale, UT | Friend
I consider Roger to be one of the finest people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. He was like a brother to me. Fishing, hunting mushrooms, and shooting black powder firearms as often as possible. He was always willing to lend a hand when I needed help and always seemed to be in a good mood. I will miss him greatly. My deepest sympathies to his family.
David Selby
May 29, 2019 | Dundas, IL | Friend
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
aaron and dinah cross
May 29, 2019 | Greenup, IL | Friend
JEANE AND FAMILY, OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ROGER. HE WAS MY FRIEND, MENTOR AND MISCHEIVIOUS PARTNER IN CRIME.
Ron and Anne Gschwend
May 28, 2019 | Olympia, WA | Friend
CHARLESTON, IL – Roger Giffin slipped away in his Charleston home on Friday, May 24, 2019 surrounded and cared for by his family, following complications stemming from a recent cancer diagnosis. He was 71.A visitation for Roger will be held on Friday, May 31 from 5pm-7pm at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston, and a celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, June 1, at 11am at First Presbyterian Church of Charleston with a luncheon to follow. An inurnment and military service will be scheduled later in the summer. Memorial gifts in his honor may be directed to the Charleston First Presbyterian Church and left at the visitation/service or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920.Roger was born in Terre Haute, IN, in 1947 to Dr. George and Darlene Giffin. He spent most of his childhood in Princeton, IL voraciously reading or playing outdoors and getting into good-hearted mischief with his best friends. He served as a page for U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen, proudly earned numerous titles and honors as an enlisted member of the U.S. Army in Germany during the Vietnam War, and ultimately obtained his B.S. in Business from Eastern Illinois University.Before one of his most cherished accomplishments, raising a family, Roger also helped start up the Kal Kan pet food plant in Mattoon alongside his future wife. He worked there for 27 years, many of which following a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, before he was unceremoniously forced into early retirement during a plant reorganization.Throughout his life, Roger maintained an active interest in preserving U.S. and family history. He was a frequent re-watcher of old Western films, an advocate for nature, an Eagle Scout, and a source of joy for his friends spread across North and South America. Though he called Charleston home for nearly fifty years, his life’s adventures took him across the U.S. and to Africa and Europe.He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Elsie and Erson Giffin and Dr. Oral F. and Freda Landis; his parents, Dr. George and Darlene Giffin; his father-in-law, George Gunkel; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.He will be deeply missed by many cousins, relatives, and close friends, as well as his brothers, Kent Giffin of Winston-Salem, NC and Mark Giffin of Columbia, SC, his mother-in-law, Alyce Gunkel of Charleston, his sons, David of Charleston and Kevin of Los Angeles, CA, and his wife of 34 years, Jeane.
Click here to view Family Memorial Video.
Funeral ServiceThe Service of Witness to the Resurrection celebrating the life of D. Roger Giffin was held on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at the Charleston First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Mary Wright officiating. Mrs. Sandy Ernst, pianist provided prelude and postlude selections and accompanied the congregational hymns of: "How Great Thou Art", "Near to the Heart of God", "For All the Saints", "Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeside" and "God Be With You". Inurnment with Military Rites will be held later in the Salisbury (Giffin) Cemetery located in Hutton Township.
Inurnment ServiceD. Roger Giffin was laid to rest at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at the Salisbury Cemetery. Military honors were provided by the Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592 and Charleston American Legion Post 93 Combined Honor Guard. Participating were: Dale Downs, Chaplain; Gary Grounds, Detail Commander; Darrell Nees, Color Bearer; Dave Finely, Color Guard; Pat Shannon, Bugler; and Gary Grounds, Paul Buerster and Eugene Winnett, Riflemen. Flag Detail of SGT Ellis and SPC Highcock was provided by the Illinois Army National Guard Military Funeral Detail. Reverend Mary Wright conducted the committal service and David's family hosted a reception at the McGrady Inn in Charleston for those attending.
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