Kenneth Roellig, Tolono, died on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at 12:49 AM at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

He was born November 14, 1925, on a farm near Windsor, Illinois.  He was the son of Albin and Ida Kull Roellig.

His visitation will be on Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 9 to11 AM at St Paul Lutheran Church, Sadorus, Illinois.  The funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM with Pastor Michael Stoerger officiating. He will be buried at Craw Cemetery, Sadorus, Illinois with military graveside rites accorded.

He married Margaret (Karcher) Reifsteck on July 11, 1974.  She died on December 3, 2020. Survivors are step-daughter Karen Reifsteck and husband John Paul, Mahomet, and step-son Charles Reifsteck and wife Lisa Courtney, Champaign.  Also surviving are grandchildren Alexander Paul and his partner Sarah Wallace, Jhane Reifsteck and husband Felipe Contreras, Chelsea Paul and husband Nathan Bloom, and Elsa Reifsteck and husband Drew Nuding.  Great grandchildren include Leonor Contreras, Clara Contreras, Sunnie Nuding, and Daisie Nuding.  He is survived by his sister Alberta Newman and husband Jerry, Normal, and sister-in-law Jo Ann Roellig, Hannibal, Missouri.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Russell Roellig.

Kenneth attended a small country grade school and graduated from Windsor High School in 1943.  He served in the U. S. Army from 1944 to 1946 with the 643rd Combat Engineers with service in Italy.  He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1950.  His first teaching job was in Sparta, Illinois.  In 1951, he joined Unit 7 School District in southern Champaign County, teaching and as a principal in Sadorus, as a principal at Tolono, then Superintendent of Unit 7 Schools, and in 1969 continued his career teaching math at Unity Junior High School until he retired in 1982.

In 1969, he started a Christmas tree farm which he and Margaret operated for about 25 years.  Also in 1969, he became affiliated with Ironworkers Local 380 coordinating the apprenticeship program and teaching math.  He worked with this program for nearly 50 years.  Kenneth was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sadorus, serving many offices.  He was a member of the Champaign County Farm Bureau serving as a board member and chairman of the Prime Timers group for over 22 years.  He received the initial Volunteer of the Year award in 2018.  He served on the Tolono Township Library Board and the Tolono Fire Protection District Board.  Recently he was honored by the Unit 7 School District by having a building on the school campus named for him for his years in the district and cooperation between the district and the Ironworkers

Memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church or to the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation to support ag education in schools in Champaign County.

Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com