William Allen Rogers, 74, of Farmington, IL, passed away at 10:10 AM on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was born on January 3, 1944 in Canton to Forrest and Vera (Bath) Rogers. He married Mary Joan Lacey on June 10, 1973 in Farmington.
He graduated from Canton High School in 1962 and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1968 where he was a member of Alpha Zeta Omega fraternity. He worked at Lewis Pharmacy during high school and was inspired by Ed Lewis to become a pharmacist. He owned and operated Rogers Pharmacy in Farmington for 36 ½ years from 1969 until 2006. He then worked at CVS in Canton before retiring.
He was a lifelong baseball fan and was thrilled to see his beloved Cubs win the World Series. He traveled to baseball stadiums every chance he got and attended the first official night game at Wrigley Field as well as the first and last regular season games at the old Busch Stadium among countless other memorable games. He was an avid collector of baseball cards, coins, and pharmacy memorabilia.
He enjoyed working in the yard, gardening, history, and putting up a spectacular Christmas lights display every winter. He loved raising butterflies and moths and taking care of his caterpillars every spring. One of his greatest joys was being a Grandpa.
He was a member of the Farmington Rotary Club where he received the Paul Harris Fellow award and served as secretary for many years. He was also a member of the Central Illinois Pharmacists Association, Farmington Moose Lodge #1571, and was a previous member of the Farmington Nursing Home Board and City of Farmington Cemetery Board.
He was also a member of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Farmington.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, three children: Bill (Dr. Christine DiRienzo) Rogers, Jr., of Blue Bell, PA, Amy (Bobby) Courtney of Indianapolis, IN, and Mary E. (Adam) Smith of Peoria, IL, and three grandchildren: Avery Grace Rogers, Harrison Grant Rogers, and Dawson Cooper Smith, one brother Charles (Lorrie) Rogers of Richland, WA, two sisters Lucille (Paul) Wattles of Cooper City, FL, and Dorothy (Ron) Bybee of Stroud, OK, and two sisters-in-law Diane Rogers of Livermore, CA, and Elizabeth Broadfield of Yates City.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Forrest “Jim” Rogers.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Farmington, IL, where a visitation will be held from 9:30 to time of service. Father Don Roszkowski will officiate. Burial will follow the services at Oakridge Cemetery in Farmington, IL. A visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Friday, March 23, 2018 at Anderson-Sedgwick Funeral Home in Farmington, IL. Memorials can be made to Farmington Rescue Squad 1100. To view William’s DVD or to make online condolences you may go to www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com
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