Rodger D. Hannel

1951 - 2021

Rodger Dale Hannel, 70, of Kinderhook, IL, passed away Friday, December 10, 2021, at Quincy Blessing Hospital, surrounded by family, following a long battle with cancer.

Rodger was born June 2, 1951, in Jacksonville, IL to Myrl and Cassie (Holcomb) Hannel. He married Bonnie Price in Independence, Missouri, on August 11, 1973, and she survives.

Other survivors include three sons, Brian, wife Jenny, of Webster Groves, Missouri, Brenton, wife Somer, of Quincy, and Kyle, wife Aimee, of Fowler, five grandchildren, Lenora and Vivian of Webster Groves, Missouri, Rocco of Quincy, and Cadence and Tyson, of Fowler. He is also survived by a brother, Dr. C. W. "Dub" (Ann) Hannel of Lubbock, Texas, a sister, Dorothy (Mike) Allgaier of Riverton, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Rodger was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Robert Bown, and a grandson, Brener Hannel.

Rodger strongly believed in getting a good education. He graduated from Meredosia-Chambersburg High School in 1969. He received an A.A. degree from York College in Nebraska in 1971. He graduated from Oklahoma Christian University in 1973 with a B.A. degree in English. In December of 1978 he received his Masters degree in Education from Western Illinois University, and then finished his Education Specialist degree at WIU in December 1985.

Rodger began his 38-year career in the field of education in 1973 at East Pike High School in Milton, where he taught English and drama for all four grade levels. For the 1977-78 school year he taught reading at Higbee Junior High in Pittsfield. In 1978 Rodger accepted his first principal job at Pearl Grade School. He was the principal of East Pike Grade school from 1979 until 1983. Then from 1983 until 1989 Rodger was principal of Pittsfield South and East Grade Schools.

In 1989 Rodger accepted his first position as a superintendent at West Pike CUSD #2 in Kinderhook. During the Flood of 1993 Rodger helped coordinate efforts to save the Hull Elementary school. After the building flooded, he arranged to get portable classrooms set up in Kinderhook to start school on time for the 1993-94 school year. He remained at West Pike until 2000 when he accepted the job as the superintendent at Payson CUSD #1. In 2005 the West Pike and Payson districts hired Rodger to be superintendent of both districts, splitting his salary and time. This dual position with Payson continued after West Pike and Barry districts consolidated as Western CUSD #12, through 2011. After 38 years in education, Rodger retired in June 2011. After retirement, Rodger served short stints as interim superintendent twice at the Payson district and once in Mendon-Unity. He always strived to leave a district in better shape than when he began there.

Rodger put God first in his life, and was a member of the Barry Church of Christ, where he served as an elder and taught Bible classes.

Rodger's pride and joy was his family. He met the love of his life, Bonnie, at college in Nebraska. They enjoyed 48 years of marriage. Rodger cherished gatherings with family, grandchildren and extended family.

Rodger also believed in service to community and others. In the past he was a member of many organizations and served in various leadership roles. In 2007 Rodger was honored to receive the Payson Community Service Award. In 2014 he was elected to the Pike County Board, and continued in that role until he resigned in November 2021 because of declining health. He was also a member of the New Philadelphia Association since 2015.

Rodger played football, basketball and baseball and ran track at Meredosia-Chambersburg High School. At York College he played on the soccer team. During his teaching years, Rodger coached a variety of sports, including volleyball, softball, track and basketball. He always enjoyed watching and coaching sports, especially his sons' teams. Rodger also enjoyed reading, playing golf, keeping his lawn looking nice, traveling with his family and watching his nephew Justin Allgaier race in the NASCAR Xfinity series. He was so honored when Justin had Rodger's name displayed on his race car at the October 2021 Kansas Speedway for the #CancerHero event.

He was also an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. Some of his favorite baseball memories were of attending Spring Training in Florida and being in Busch Stadium for the winning games 6 and 7 of the 2011 World Series.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at the Niebur Funeral Chapel in Barry, IL. The funeral service will also be at the Niebur Funeral Chapel in Barry, IL at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 17, 2021. Interment will follow at Bluff Hall Cemetery in Payson, IL.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Barry Church of Christ. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Chapel in Barry is handling the arrangements.