Donald Roth

MORTON - Donald F. Roth, 83, of 249 Baltimore Ave., Morton, passed away and was peacefully promoted to Glory at 2:27 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, in Peoria.

Born July 15, 1931, to Amos Jr. and Ada (King) Roth, he married Ruth Catherine King on June 25, 1966, at First Mennonite Church of Morton.

Surviving are his wife, Ruthie; his brother, Herbert (Darlene) Roth; nephew, Doug (Donna) Roth; nephew, Jeff (Donna) Roth; and nephew, Todd Leander. Also, he is survived by many loving great-nephews and -nieces, cousins and friends.

Don graduated from Morton High School in 1949. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict as a chaplain's assistant and organist. His lifetime occupation was grain farming in the Roth Brothers' Partnership. Don was owner of the Roth Homestead purchased in 1865 by his great-grandfather, Daniel Roth. He was co-owner of Eastside Farms and Roth Grain Company. In addition, from 1954 to 2005, Don served as an assistant for Ludwig Mortuary and Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home.

Don was dedicated in working for the church and Illinois Relief Sale. He served as Co-Chairman of the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale from 1970 to 2014 and helped with the sale since its beginning in 1959. He was co-editor of "Love in Action: The Story of Thirty Illinois Mennonite Relief Sales," published in 1989. Among other activities, he was chairman of First Mennonite Church's Committee for building and installing an elevator in 1989-1990. Don was co-chair for organizing volunteer labor at the Normal '89 National Mennonite Conference at ISU in August of 1989. He served as Sunday School Secretary for First Mennonite Church from 1962 to 2002 and then as assistant. In 1964, Don served as Pipe Organ Committee Chairman for First Mennonite Church. Other church activities included Youth Choir Director for First Mennonite from 1965 to 1994 and adult and youth bell choir director from 1981 to 2009. Don was one of the church choristers from 1947 to 2005 and a member of the singing choir at that time. Also, he was appointed pianist and organist for First Mennonite from 1954 until recent years. He served on the Church Board, Worship Commission, Music Committee and Property Commission, periodically from 1954 to 2005. Other church duties included member of the Parsonage Building Committee for First Mennonite in 1964, member of the Centennial Planning Committee for First Mennonite in 1979 and also a member of the 125th Anniversary Celebration Committee in 2004. Mr. Roth chaired the Information and Lodging Committee for Mennonite National Conferences in Morton in 1957 and at Eureka College in 1971. He was a member of the Family Center Building Committee for First Mennonite from 2000 to 2001.

In addition to church activities, Don was dedicated to community service. He served on the Peoria Salvation Army Advisory Board from Sept. 10, 1991, to the present, and formerly was the Salvation Army Property Chair. He loved his Morton community and was elected Mayor of Morton, serving from April 1, 1997, to April of 2005, and was trustee on the Morton Village Board from 1991 to April of 2005. He also served on the Morton Village Planning Commission from 1989 to 1991. In addition, he was a former member of the Tri-County Mayors' Association and EDC. For many years, he had been a member of the Morton Rotary Club as well. He was a past member of the First National Bank Board of Morton.

Don deeply enjoyed other community service opportunities. He was co-author (with his wife, Ruthie) for the book, "MORTON: A PICTORIAL HISTORY," in celebration of Morton's First National Bank Centennial celebration in 1988. Also, he was appointed chairman of the Giant Pumpkin Contest for Morton from 1971 to 2006. He formerly served as vice president of We Care and was a member of the Citizens' Committee for the Restoration of Jubilee College. Another exciting opportunity for Don was his appointment as chairman of Morton's Bicentennial Community Project in 1975-1976 and the coordination of the building of Morton's Freedom Hall. Still other volunteer projects were as a board member of Morton Chamber, chair of the Beautification Committee in 1971-1972 and president of Morton Community Chest. Mr. Roth, like his wife, loved working with young people, and he co-directed with Ruthie the Morton High School Dinner Theater for 15 years.

Among awards and honors Don received were the William Booth Award from the Peoria Salvation Army on March 26, 2004, and the Spirit of the Army Award in 1994. He and his wife, Ruthie, were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Illinois Historical Society for the Morton history book they authored. In 1991, Don and his wife, Ruthie, served as co-authors of the family history book entitled "Bishop Samuel Gerber: a Brief Look at the Lives and Times of His Ancestors, Family and Descendants." In May of 1990, Don was given an Honorary Alumnus Award from Eureka College. He was selected as Grand Marshal for the Morton Pumpkin Festival in 1985 and was recognized as Citizen of the Month by the Tazewell News in October of 1974. In addition, he was given the first Man of the Year Award in 1971, sponsored by the Morton Chamber of Commerce. He received a Centennial Family Farm Award from Gov. Richard B. Ogilvie in 1972, as well as awards from Libby's for highest yellow sweet corn yield for several years. On Oct. 19, 2013, Don and his wife were recipients of the Stalter Heritage Award from the Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society for significant contributions to the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale and the First Mennonite Church of Morton.

Mr. Roth especially loved Christmastime and sharing the good news of Christ's birth. For more than 45 years, he, with the help of family and friends, designed and constructed a large beautiful lighted outdoor home yard Christmas display with inspiring religious themes. For this and all other accomplishments, he sincerely gave thanks and glory to God. He was a dedicated servant of God, always desiring to help others.

The family wishes to express deep appreciation to Apostolic Christian Restmor and St. Francis Hospital and all other wonderful friends who have helped Don and the family during his time of illness.

A visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, at First Mennonite Church of Morton. Further visitation will be from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29, followed by a memorial service celebrating Don's life at 10 a.m. at First Mennonite Church of Morton, where Don had been a lifetime member. Pastor Aaron Yoder will officiate. Interment will follow in Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by the United States Army.

Memorials in tribute to Don's life may be made to the First Mennonite Church of Morton, the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale or the Peoria Salvation Army.

To view Don's video tribute or to express condolences online, please visit www.knappjohnson.com.