R. Roger Waddington Obituary (1925 - 2018)

R. Roger Waddington, 93, of Pana passed away Sunday, August 12, 2018 in Heritage Health--Pana. He was born May 25, 1925 in Pana to the late Ralph & Dorthea (Limer) Waddington. Roger was a graduate of Rosamond High School, Class of 1942. He married Irma Joann Miller on November 3, 1946 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Nokomis and this year would have celebrated 72 years of marriage. Roger worked for 42 years as assistant manager of Paddock Lumber Company in Pana, retiring in 1989. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pana, where he served as elder & trustee and was a member of the choir. He was soloist for the Senior Kitchen Band and member & past president of the Pana Lions Club. Roger had also received the 1998 Lions Melvin Jones Fellow Award, the Distinguished Service Award, and was the 2007 Pana Labor Day Parade Grand Marshall. He also volunteered at Pana Community Hospital for many years, delivering meals to shut-ins. Roger was known for his kind personality and being the "juicy fruit man". He always had a stick of gum in his pockets and was on the third generation of handing out gum after the church service. His favorite pastimes were having coffee with the guys at McDonalds and golfing with the Golden Oldies. After his retirement, he was known as the "handyman" around town, helping anyone in need. He loved to sing and for the past two months in the nursing home, he sang every day for anyone that requested a song. As a Christian example to his family, he is now resting in the arms of our Savior and singing with the heavenly choir of angels. Roger is survived by his wife, Irma Waddington, Pana, IL; children: Joann (Gene) Lower of Moweaqua, IL; Janet Creighton of Normal, IL & Jennifer (Jim) Lessman of Hillsboro, IL; 6 grandchildren: Roger (Francine) Lower, Gina (Brook) Kimball-Cook, Sean Creighton, Georgia (Dieter) Rademacher, Kerri Page (Fiance Peter Roux), Cory (Rebecca) Creighton; 14 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; brother, Eric (Ann) Waddington of Omaha, NE and sister, Rosalie McLeod of Pana, IL. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Brian Pruett; sisters: Mary Baker, Marjorie Cearlock, Betty Temmen, Thelma Aumann, Donna Lehman, Norma Mizeur and brothers: Jim Waddington, Robert "Bob" Waddington & Marion Waddington. Funeral services for Roger will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2018 in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pana at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Terrence E. O'Brien officiating. Burial will be in Rosemond Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home. Memorials in Roger's honor may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church, 208 E. Fourth St., Pana, IL 62557 or Pana Community Hospital Foundation, 101 E. Ninth St., Pana, IL 62557.