Roger W. Smith (89) of Effingham

Roger William Smith, 89, of Effingham, IL, peacefully passed away Monday, July 8, 2019 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital while he was surrounded by his family members. Roger was born April 18, 1930 to Henry “Sox” and Eula (Gaertner) Smith of Walsh, IL.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 11 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Effingham, IL. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, Effingham, IL. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday with a 6:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus rosary at Johnson Funeral Home, Effingham, IL. Memorials may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Schools. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Roger graduated from Sparta (Illinois) High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 during the Korean War. He was married to June (Heuman) Smith, the love of his life, on June 19, 1954 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Evansville, IL. He later worked as Pressroom Assistant Manager at World Color Press and retired in 1992. Roger loved to be with family and playing cards. He ran every day for several years, competed in road races, loved watching his children and grandchildren in their activities, and even coached his children’s sports team. Roger enjoyed outdoor activities, especially fishing. He and June enjoyed traveling to different places and visiting family all over the country. In his retirement, Roger was an altar server for funeral masses and a long time preparer for Knights of Columbus bingo. He was always willing to lift a hand to anyone in need. Roger was a lifelong devoted Catholic and St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Roger is survived by his wife of 65 years, June Smith of Effingham; four children, David (Marlana) Smith of Dyersburg, TN, Judy (Rod) Wiethop of Effingham, Marilyn (Jim) Helton of Glen Carbon, IL, and Margaret (Dan) Shimkus of Columbia, MO; ten grandchildren, Aaron Smith, Rachel (James) Carden, Dannielle (Kyle) Harden, Robbie (Laynn) Kingery, Joshua Helton, Jenna Helton, Jamen Helton, Steve Shimkus, Melea Shimkus, and Danica Shimkus; seven great-grandchildren, Juliana and Kalli Harden, Jared and Hannah Helton, Jamison, Cara, and Emma Carden; brothers, Ron (Chris) Smith of Carlsbad, CA and Norman (Janice) Smith of Walsh, IL; many nieces and nephews; and many friends who were family to Roger.

He was preceded in death by his son, Steven Smith; his daughter-in-law, Crystal (Larimer) Smith; his parents, Henry “Sox” & Eula Smith; brother, Victor (Josephine) Smith; and sister, Doris (Robert) Gulde.