Roger M. Veach
January 21, 2006

Roger M. Veach, age 88, of 1811 So. 24th, Quincy, died Saturday, January 21, 2006 at 2:54 pm in Blessing Hospital.

He was born October 9, 1917 in Bowen, Illinois, the son of John R. and Bess Smith Veach. On August 24, 1940, he married Emily Jean Crihfield in Atlanta, IL. She survives.

Mr. Veach graduated from Bowen High School in 1935, attended Culver-Stockton College and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1939. At Culver he was on the Dean's honor roll in 1936 and 1937. He was a member of the band and orchestra, Mu Theta Nu Fraternity, the a cappella Choir and co-captain of the basketball team 1936-1937. From 1939 to 1950 he worked for Moorman Mfg. Co. where he started as a Jr. Executive Development Trainee, and continued on as Cost Accountant, Sales Correspondent, Assistant Traffic Manager, Sales Personnel and Regional Sales Manager. From 1950 to 1952 he worked at Calcium Carbonate as Industrial Sales Manager. In 1952 he was employed by Gates Radio Company where he was Director of Personnel and Public Relations. After his retirement, he stayed with the Gates division of Harris Intertype to successfully move General Electric to Quincy from Syracuse N.Y. From 1955 to 1966 he was President and Owner of the Jean and John Shop. Mr. Veach was a member of Vermont Street United Methodist Church where he had been chairman of the Music and Worship Committee, Council of Ministries and Official Board of the Church. He was a member of the choir for many years and a lay leader. He had been General Chairman of the Quincy Public School Bond Issue, Chairman of the Personnel Committee and member of the Board of Trustees of Chaddock School. Roger was Chairman of the Employment Committee and member of the Mayor's Commission on Equal Opportunity, a board member of Adams County Red Cross and United Fund of Adams County. He had also been a member of the Quincy Industrial Assoc., Quincy and Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Exchange Club, American Management Association and Quincy Personnel Club. Roger was a past president of the Quincy School Board, Quincy YMCA where he served 4 terms, past president of Quincy Exchange Club, Quincy Personnel Club and the United Fund of Adams County and Past Chairman of Adams County Red Cross Fund Campaign and Adams County Polio Fund Drive. He was a past member of the Social Security and Unemployment Compensation Committee of Illinois State Chamber of Commerce and the Quincy Sanitary and Storm Sewer Commission. He was also a member of the Quincy Country Club, the Good Sams and Golden K Kiwanis Club.

Survivors in addition to his wife are his daughter, Suzi Duker and her husband Paul, Quincy; 4 grandchildren, Steve Holzgraefe and his wife Debbie; Douglas Duker and his wife Laura; Beth Allender and her husband Mark; Mark Duker and his wife Jen; four great grandchildren, Erica Allender, Ian Allender, Drew Duker, Ben Duker, and a stepbrother, Jim Orr, Quincy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Richard Holzgraefe, a brother Howard Veach, a sister, Maxine Sim; his stepmother, Neva Veach.

Memorial services will be Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at 2 pm in the Vermont Street United Methodist Church, Rev. Lou Zuck officiating. Visitation will be Monday evening from 4-6 pm at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Vermont Street United Methodist Church, 818 Vermont, Quincy, IL 62301.

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