OBITUARY Roger Lee Park December 8, 1942 – January 3, 2019 Roger Lee Park, 76, of Jacksonville, Florida joined our Lord on January 3rd, 2018 surrounded by his cherished family from complications from pneumonia. He was born in Centerville, IA on December 8, 1942 to Zellen H. and Alice M. (Hickerson) Park. Roger was raised in Seymour, IA where he graduated from Seymour high school then went to the University of Iowa where he graduated top of his class with a degree in Botany and Physics. He joined the Army and served in Vietnam for 2 years with an honorable discharge. He met his beloved wife Jane Valois, and they married on June 27th, 1970. They traveled for 2 years on their sail boat down the coast of California to Mexico when his mother became ill and they returned to Seymour to care for her. In 1973 Roger built the first solar home in Iowa, he was the commander of the American Legion and planted 1000 trees by the cemetery earning him an award from the Iowa governor. He was head of the Seymour city council. Roger loved working as a Physics teacher for 15 years. After the death of his mother he moved his family to Indiana and worked as an environmental chemist. Moving to Florida in 1990 his career as a chemist continued until his retirement. After retirement he was a consultant for Rooster Environmental until his death. Roger was a devoted and loving father to three beautiful children Jennifer, Kristen and Jonathan and six grandchildren ranging in age from 6 months to 15 years old. Nothing made him happier than spending time with his family who he and Jane have raised with strong faith, love and ethic. Roger became a Catholic in 1986, he persevered in his faith on mission trips to Jamaica where he embraced a boy’s orphanage founded by the Sisters of Mercy. He made numerous trips building homes and along with his son Jonathan providing culinary training to the boys to secure bright futures. He dedicated his service to Prince of Peace Catholic Church in many ways but most proudly keeping up the baptismal font. Roger was always donating his time and money to those in need no matter how small. He is survived by his wife of 48 years Jane; children Jennifer Castleberry (Neil Castleberry) , Kristen Parker (Tray Parker) and Jonathan Park (Cecelia Tuttle Park) ; and grandchildren Grace and Reagan Parker, Cole and Leo Castleberry and Noah and Josephine Park. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 8th in San Jose Catholic Church, 3619 Toledo Rd # A, Jacksonville, FL 32217, concelebrated by two very dear friends Father Michael Larkin and Father Tony Palazzolo. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Food for the Poor on line at foodforthepoor.org/comments section “in memory of Roger Park” Send Flowers Show Your Support Share Obituary share to facebook share by email share link Receive Notifications
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Roger Lee Park 2019.
Death notice for the town of: jacksonville, state: Florida