Roger K. Dunham

Roger Kyle Dunham, 82, of New Salem died Thursday evening, February 13, 2025, at Illini Hospital in Pittsfield. Cancer was the culprit, but Christ was still the victor.

One of the first babies born at the then-newly-constructed hospital, Roger was born to the late Dean and Carolyn Dunham of New Salem on June 18, 1942. A 1960 graduate of Griggsville High School, Roger attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where he earned a bachelor’s of science in agricultural economics in 1964. During his time there, he was a founding father of the Little Egypt Agricultural Cooperative, which would later become the Beta Alpha chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity in 1970.

While at SIU, Roger met Charlotte Ann Richardson of Centralia, IL, and the two married on January 2, 1965, eventually celebrating 60 years of marriage this past January.

In 1966, Roger received a letter from Uncle Sam, drafting him into the Army and the Vietnam Conflict. He spent four months and was trained on tanks at Fort Knox, KY, before deploying to Korea for 14 months, where he served until honorably discharged from Fort Hood, TX, in 1968.

Roger was recruited and hired as a branch manager for A.O. Smith Harvestore in 1969, and he and Charlotte relocated to the company’s headquarters in Milwaukee, WI. However, after three years of increased travel away and a desire to return to farm in Pike County, the couple (and their then two-year-old son, Craig) moved back in 1973.

A Jeffersonian agrarian at heart, Roger was a successful livestock and grain farmer with a passion to encourage, teach, and mentor young men in agriculture: he was named the State of Illinois’ Soil and Water Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1993; the family was honored as the 1994 Conservation Farm Family of the Year; and Roger was appointed by Governor Jim Edgar to be a member of the Illinois State Soil and Water Conservation Advisory Board in 1995.

In 2022, the Dunham farm was retroactively recognized as an Illinois Department of Agriculture Sesquicentennial Farm, with Roger being the fifth generation to farm, improve, and expand the land since the initial acquisition in 1855.

Roger was a pillar in the Pike County region and communities: he was a member of Pike County Farm Bureau for decades; a member of the steering committee for the Griggsville-Perry school districts consolidation; treasurer for the Griggsville Fire District; a trustee of New Salem township; and a long-time basketball scorekeeper for the Griggsville Junior High Eagles.

Most importantly, Roger loved Christ and the Church, his country, and his family: he was a faithful member and former elder of First Christian Church of Pittsfield and was active in their choir and men’s small group; he served as long-time chaplain for Griggsville American Legion Post #213, coordinating Memorial Day services for many years at Baylis, Gray, and Griggsville cemeteries; and he was “Rog,” “Dad,” and “Grandpa” to those who loved him most.

Surviving are his wife, Charlotte, of New Salem; a son, Craig (wife Megan) of Springfield; two daughters, Jamie Kelley (husband John) and Jill Kunzeman (husband Eric), both of Griggsville; eight grandchildren, Ryan Kelley, Madeline Clark (husband Bruce), Chloe Crase (husband Brian), Tucker Kunzeman, Katherine Leong (husband Josiah), Jenna Kelley, Tate Kunzeman, and Emilia Dunham; one great-grandchild, Emily Clark; and a sister, Janice Barton (husband Bob) of Pittsfield.

The family will meet with friends during visitation from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 20, 2025, at First Christian Church in Pittsfield, which will include military honors conducted by Griggsville American Legion Post #213. Interment will follow the service at Pittsfield West Cemetery. Lunch will be served immediately following at Crossroads Center in Pittsfield. All are welcome. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church or Wounded Warrior Project. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.

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