August 02 1947 May 24 2019
D. Roger’s Obituary CHARLESTON, IL – Roger Giffin slipped away in his Charleston home on Friday, May 24, 2019 surrounded and cared for by his family, following complications stemming from a recent cancer diagnosis. He was 71. A visitation for Roger will be held on Friday, May 31 from 5pm-7pm at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston, and a celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, June 1, at 11am at First Presbyterian Church of Charleston with a luncheon to follow. An inurnment and military service will be scheduled later in the summer. Memorial gifts in his honor may be directed to the Charleston First Presbyterian Church and left at the visitation/service or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. Roger was born in Terre Haute, IN, in 1947 to Dr. George and Darlene Giffin. He spent most of his childhood in Princeton, IL voraciously reading or playing outdoors and getting into good-hearted mischief with his best friends. He served as a page for U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen, proudly earned numerous titles and honors as an enlisted member of the U.S. Army in Germany during the Vietnam War, and ultimately obtained his B.S. in Business from Eastern Illinois University. Before one of his most cherished accomplishments, raising a family, Roger also helped start up the Kal Kan pet food plant in Mattoon alongside his future wife. He worked there for 27 years, many of which following a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, before he was unceremoniously forced into early retirement during a plant reorganization. Throughout his life, Roger maintained an active interest in preserving U.S. and family history. He was a frequent re-watcher of old Western films, an advocate for nature, an Eagle Scout, and a source of joy for his friends spread across North and South America. Though he called Charleston home for nearly fifty years, his life’s adventures took him across the U.S. and to Africa and Europe. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Elsie and Erson Giffin and Dr. Oral F. and Freda Landis; his parents, Dr. George and Darlene Giffin; his father-in-law, George Gunkel; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He will be deeply missed by many cousins, relatives, and close friends, as well as his brothers, Kent Giffin of Winston-Salem, NC and Mark Giffin of Columbia, SC, his mother-in-law, Alyce Gunkel of Charleston, his sons, David of Charleston and Kevin of Los Angeles, CA, and his wife of 34 years, Jeane. Click here to view Family Memorial Video. Funeral Service The Service of Witness to the Resurrection celebrating the life of D. Roger Giffin was held on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at the Charleston First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Mary Wright officiating. Mrs. Sandy Ernst, pianist provided prelude and postlude selections and accompanied the congregational hymns of: “How Great Thou Art”, “Near to the Heart of God”, “For All the Saints”, “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeside” and “God Be With You”. Inurnment with Military Rites will be held later in the Salisbury (Giffin) Cemetery located in Hutton Township. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of D Roger Giffin August 02 1947 May 24 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Charleston, state: Illinois