Roger passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 14, 2024, in his home. Roger was born on July 5, 1935, in Freeport to A. Raymond "Ray" & Lorraine M. "Chick" (Grell) Anderson. Roger was raised in Pecatonica and graduated from "Pec" High School in 1953. He joined the U.S. Navy and following boot camp, he was in the Navy Reserves for 8 years. Roger formerly worked at Woodward Governor Company, attended Rockford College & Northern Illinois University, then graduated with honors from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, served his apprenticeship & worked for Burpee-Wood Funeral Home for 4 years then joined Long-Klontz Funeral Home in 1964. In 1969 he was made a partner in that firm. That year the 3 partners purchased the business of Julian-Poorman Funeral Home. Following the deaths of Mr. John Long & David Klontz, Roger became the sole owner of Anderson-Long-Klontz.

Roger enjoyed fishing, boating, golfing, and flying and was a partner in the A&W Flying Service. He was appointed, by the Governor of the State of Illinois, to serve as member, secretary, and chairman of the 5 man State Board of Funeral Directing & Embalming Examiners, serving for 5 years. Roger and good friend M. Scott Hansen had previously owned "Good Time Charlies" restaurant.

He was a life member of Cherry Valley Masonic Lodge #173, an honorary member of Star in the East Masonic Lodge #166; Valley of Freeport Scottish Rite Masons; and Knights Templars #14; He was a former member of Tebala's International Championship Drum & Bugle Corps & member of Tebala's Air Squadron; Roger was Potentate of the Tebala Shriners in 1979 and then served Tebala as treasurer for the next 27 years, past director of the Royal Order of Jester Ct. #69. Past president of Northern Illinois Funeral Directors Association and past member of National Conference of Funeral Examiners.

Roger is loved and will be missed by his 3 sons, Jeffrey S. (Yvonne) Anderson, Rockford, IL, Stephen G. (Diann) Anderson, Loveland, CO, and Roger D. "Chip" (Cindy) Anderson, Winnebago, IL; Grandchildren, David (Katherine) Anderson, Jonathan Anderson, Patrick (Tiana) Anderson, Dr. Matthew (Mary) Anderson, Carter Anderson, Ella Anderson; Step-grandchildren Jimmy (Laura) Johnson and Jeffery (Grace) Johnson; Great-grandchildren, Luke, Grace, Jacob, Caleb, Ezekiel, Jordan, Avery Anderson, Hollyn, Robin, Charlotte Johnson; as well as special friend, Joy King. Roger is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Donald R. Anderson (in 1933), daughter-in-law, Rev. Patricia Anderson in 2009, and former wife, Marjorie J. Anderson in 2014.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, September 20, 2024, at Grace Funeral Chapel, 4301 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103 with Rev Calvin Culpepper officiating. The visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the funeral home with Masonic Rites at 7 p.m. Private burial will be in Belvidere Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Shriners Hospitals—arrangements made by Tony Gasparini Funerals.