A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, March 8, at 11 a.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church, Peoria, for Deacon Roger Hunter, who served in ministries such as pontifical deacon, Boy Scout chaplain, RCIA and Cursillo.

Deacon Hunter, 78, of Peoria, passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center.

He was born in Ludington, Michigan on July 12, 1946 to the late Clark Lester and Regina Ann (Greiner) Hunter, and married Linda Lee Sherd on July 4, 1968.

After fulfilling his military obligations with the U.S. Army, his formal education culminated with an MBA from the University of Arkansas in 1972. In 1973, he began a 36-year career with Caterpillar.

DIACONAL SERVICE WIDE-RANGING

In an article in The Catholic Post in May 2022 on the occasion of his 25th anniversary as a permanent deacon in 1997, Deacon Hunter recalled how he approached his vocation with fear and trembling:

“Linda and I were going to talk to Msgr. (Charles) Beebe the whole third year of our formation to say (the diaconate) just didn’t seem right for me, but that conversation never took place.

Going down that aisle on that Saturday at the cathedral it was too late. However, as I lay prostrate on that cold marble floor, a peace came over me like I’ve never felt before.”

His pastoral service was wide-ranging, from acting as pontifical deacon at St. Mary’s Cathedral, to taking Communion to the homebound, to assuming the role of notary-auditor for the diocesan Marriage Tribunal for 20 years.

LIVER TRANSPLANT – AND GIFT OF MUSIC

In January 1998, Deacon Hunter received a liver transplant, and after that was a tireless promoter of  organ donor awareness, including at many Peoria Notre Dame High School’s driver education classes.

As well as celebrating the gift of life, he celebrated the gift of music. In high school he played drums, clarinet and tenor sax in the marching, concert and dance bands, and later, he played keyboard and sang in the choir at St. Jude.

He also sang and played keyboard for the Ephpheta Choir, which performed for Saint Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and for Mrs. Barbara Bush at the White House.

Among his many long-term connections, he was also a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, and worked with the Boy Scouts of America, W. D. Boyce Council, Troop 88 and Troop 40.

OTHER SPECIAL MOMENTS

In his 25th anniversary Catholic Post profile, he indicated other special moments including assisting at Masses in Rome and Assisi, Italy, and Ars, France, as well as holy places in Israel and ordination Masses.

Deacon Hunter is survived by his wife, Linda; his children, Jenniffer Rae (Jason) Davis of Peoria and Roger Jr. of Williamsburg, Iowa; three granddaughters; five great-grandchildren; two nephews; one niece; and aunts, uncles and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, one sister, maternal and paternal grandparents, six aunts and one uncle.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Wright & Salmon Mortuary, 2416 N. North Street Peoria, with the rosary beginning at 3 p.m. Further visitation will be at St. Jude Catholic Church on Saturday March 8, from 10 to 11 a.m., with Mass at 11. Burial will follow at St. Clement’s Cemetery in Dunlap, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Catholic Grade School.

Tributes and condolences may be made at www.wrightandsalmon.com