Roger J. Pilkington, 64, of Niota, Illinois, passed away at 3:28 a.m. Sunday, September 28, 2025 at the Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois.
Roger was born March 22, 1961 in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Louis and Donna (Russell) Pilkington. In 1999 he married Georgina Hoyt in Woodstock, Illinois. They later divorced.
Survivors include one daughter: Colby (Bryan Fletcher) Pilkington of Fort Madison; two grandchildren: Felix and Finnley Fletcher (with one more on the way); two sisters: Angela Robinson of Cornelius, North Carolina and Linda Wilson of Nauvoo; three brothers: Leland (Debi) Pilkington of Henryetta, Oklahoma, Rick (Kris) Pilkington of Carthage and David Pilkington of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and numerous nieces and nephews.
Roger was a graduate of Nauvoo-Colusa High School and attended Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois. While in high school he worked for Gregory’s Garage, where he refurbished cars. This developed a life long passion for tinkering and fixing anything he could get his hands on. Being a jack-of-all-trades, he worked numerous jobs over the years. These jobs include painting for National Tank & Maintenance, and Stevenson’s Painting. He also worked many construction jobs, was employed by Fruehauf Inc., tended bar at the Wye Knot, and he was currently serving as Road Commissioner for Appanoose Township. Roger also owned and operated Roger’s Do All for many years.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting and especially spending time with his grandchildren. He was a volunteer with the Niota Fire Department.
Cremation has been entrusted to Schmitz-Banks & Beals Funeral Home of Nauvoo.
A visitation with the family will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Schmitz-Banks & Beals in Nauvoo. A luncheon and celebration of Roger’s life will follow at the Wye Knot Tavern in Niota.
A memorial fund has been established. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit Roger’s obituary at sbbfuneralhome.com.
