Roger L. Gillispie 67, died April 8, 2020 at his Newton residence. He was born July 12, 1952 in Newton, Kansas to James and Audrey (Kennedy) Gillispie.
On August 25, 1973 he married Peggy Warner at St. Mary Church in Newton and she survives of the home.
He is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Newton.
Roger was a 1970 graduate of Newton High School and attended Wichita State University. From 1973 to 1976 he was a USDA meat inspector. He purchases Farrell’s market on West First Street in Newton in 1976 and it was opened until 1989. Roger was the manager of YB Meats in Wichita from 1991 to 1997 before opening Gillispie Meats in on East Broadway in Newton where he worked until the business was sold to his nephew earlier this year. During his time owning his store he was proud to mentor many youth who worked for him through the years.
Roger was the business manager for the American Legion Baseball for over 25 years. He also helped with Babe Ruth Baseball in Newton for nearly 6 years.
He has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus for over 40 years where he has served as Secretary Treasurer as well as other positions through the years.
Roger was very proud of his family and enjoyed his time with his wife, son and grandchildren and many friends he has made in Newton and the surrounding area.
He is survived by his wife Peggy of the home; mother Audrey Stucky of Newton; son Aaron and his wife Mandy Gillispie and their children Brennan, Jalyn and Ty of Andover; brother Robert and his wife Becky of Newton, KS and sister Kristie and her husband Brian Stubby of Newton.
Roger is preceded in death by his father.
Private family committal will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery with a Memorial Mass scheduled later this spring or early summer.
Memorials are suggested to American Legion Baseball or Knights of Columbus in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
We live in McPherson and only knew Roger from shopping at his store, but he was always so kind and friendly. We talked about sports and all the games he attended here in Kansas. He never mentioned his illness so we were shocked when the store closed and we heard of his passing. Pleases accept our sincere condolences. We will truly miss him.
Roger and I were in grade school and Cub Scouts together until I moved away in 1961, but I always made a point of visiting him in his shop when I returned to Newton to visit my Grandmother. So sorry for your loss
Rest in peace Roger, your friends, family and community will miss you very much, I know I will.
We thank God for Roger’s life. We are blessed to know him. We are sorry he is gone aND send our condolences to Peggy and family.
Roger was a contributor to his community hard working family man his brother Bob good friend of mine I am sure his nephew Josh will keep his store going in Roger’s memory I am very sorry to all family for your loss
I loved Grandpa Roger my whole life because we had so much fun with each other & my brother Ty James is the best person to my grandpa Roger he has done a lot for everyone even his base ball team
Thinking of your entire family at this very sad time. Roger was a Gem. He always had a smile and a kind word. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Gary and Sheri Gronau
R.I.P. Mr. Baseball.
Roger you will be greatly missed by your family and the community.
Words are hard to find for many as it will be hard to imagine Roger not being at Gillispies anymore. My thoughts and prayers to Peggy and the entire family. Roger was a very humble person and loved by many. We’ll miss you.
I will truly miss you Roger I knew you since you were in high school working in the meat market at Farrell’s grocery. I am saddened by your loss. Condolences to Gillespie family
My thoughts and prayers are with Peggy, Josh and the rest of the family. Roger was a wonderful man and will be missed by many.
Thinking of the Gillispie family. Roger was the kindest man and wonderful mentor to many! Roger will be missed by many. Until we meet again.
Charlie and Tawnia Newell
May he find peace. I was from the class of 1971 and he was a very good person. May his family find peace.
Roger was a wonderful boss and friend to my parents, Bert and Don Bainum. It was always nice to stop in and say hi and bring meat from his shop back to my family in Kansas City. He will be missed.
I went to High School with Roger and brother Bob. They were always so much fun. Roger was a good business man and did such a great job of taking care of his customers. The Newton community will miss him. Sorry to here the sad news and pray for comfort for the Gillispie family.
Roger was one of the kindest men I knew here in Newton. He got me hooked up with baseball gigs to bring my food cart to and then with my food truck. He would let me call him after hours sometimes so I could get more polish sausage and hot links from him during saturday baseball tourneys. He will be greatly missed.
Roger was the most thoughtful guy you could ever meet. When I worked as field maintenance supervisor for Newton Rec he would call me at the end of every season to give me money to take the crew out to eat. My cloud of witnesses has grown again by one! See you again in the Kingdom Rog.
Roger was my best friend. I will greatly miss him. We went to so many sporting events. He loved sports as much as I did. Almost everywhere we attended a game someone would come and say hello as they knew him, usually from his baseball activities. I used to tell him let’s go some place where noone will know you. Those places were few and far between. Roger’s reach was state wide. He will be missed by so many people. God needed someone to run his baseball program and he picked the best. Carolyn and I miss you already. Rest in peace my friend.
Roger was one of the friendliest guys around. Gillispie’s Meats was such a quality place to get your meats. He will be missed!
Thankful for Josh to continue the tradition.
I Knew Roger from where he worked. He was always so kind to me when i came in to get my bierocks! I am going to miss him so much. R.I.P. Roger. You will be Missed.
We always enjoyed visiting Roger at his store. Martin was a regular for a sandwich or bierock..Roger always had a smile on his face and kind words. We will miss him. Our prayers are with you..
The last time I stopped in to see Roger while I was in Newton he told me that he still had his old Gene’s Shoes softball team uniform. I stopped by before leaving and we reminisced about a time I guess is long forgotten.Bobby, you guys are the best.
Roger was a wonderful man , I kind. Enjoyed seeing him pulling his grandkids in their wagon when they were younger, he lived them so much. RIP Roger.
Thinking of the entire family, especially Peggy and Aaron, during this very sad time. Roger was a very friendly man who always had a smile and kind words. He truly will be missed by the community for all of his involvement including his store. Our sincere condolences to Peggy, Aaron and family.
Mike and Maria Hood
I remember Roger from when I was a little girl going to the market on First St. He was always smiling, kind and friendly. Prayers for his family.
Rest In Peace!
It was a pleasure to know him.
Roger lived an impressive life.
Roger I want to thank you for all the good times of going to basketball games. The biggest memory of you was you always made sure the first thing you would pick up on the way into the game was a bag of popcorn. If the popcorn was good we would go for the second one. Thanks for the friendship and the trips together. RIP my friend. You will be missed.
R.I.P. Roger. What a great guy.
I remember my first time meeting Roger. I told him I came in specifically to try his ham salad sandwich. I had it a lot growing up in Sedgwick and wanted to try his. He told me if you’ve had it in Sedgwick, you had it from Leon’s, and he’s tried his best to match it but to go ahead and give his a shot. It was just as good! From that moment on, he never forgot my name and would seek me out in public to ask how my life was going. I always appreciated that. He was an outstanding man and seeing all of these comments justifies it. He will be missed.
My husband Jim and I would like to share our deepest condolences and offer hope and love to his wife Peggy and his entire extended family. The Gillespie family has always been a treasure to the town of Newton, and Roger a sparking gem. He will be truly missed! God bless all of you!
My condolence to the family of Roger. My grandparents Una and Manley Sands got us all started on the meat market, my father Robert was born in Newton so we spent a lot of time there getting our ham loaves. I now live in Co and when ever I’m in Kansas I make a special trip to the market to get my ham loaves and whatever else Roger would suggest. He love to talk and so did I. He will be truly missed but so happy the market will continue to operate?
Our prayers are with family and friends Roger will be missed very much. Our sons Jake and Deke loved playing baseball and Roger was a big part of that.
Many great memories of Roger and family as a little girl. Once grown, loved going to the market and talking ball, always a story. Prayers and blessings to the family.
It will be hard for everyone in Newton and the surrounding areas who knew Roger and bought all the wonderful products from his Market. He was so kind and selfless. May he rest in God’s eternal light. We were all blessed to have known him. Rest easy Roger…
My thoughts and prayers are with the Gillespie family during this very sad time. I got to know Roger personally through American Legion Baseball at the State Meetings. He was a very special individual! God Bless you all!!!!
I will miss you, Roger, as a person and as a big contributor to the community. I will also miss your cream puffs, your bierocks, your dinner rolls and your ham loaf. While your life was too short, you made it the equivalent of two lives.
I rermember Roger when he came to work as a youngster at my dad’s market. He was a hard worker and I have always had the feeling that our family owed a lot to Roger fr keeping up the ham loaf tradition. My dad Bob Schroeder thought Roger was the greatest. Our family’s deepest sympathy.
I love you dad.
I have known Roger for years and he was always an inspiration. We loved his meat market. Not only was the meat the very best but the visits were also awesome. Josh I am so happy you will keep the store open. Our prayers are with you all. Dave n Ann Schmidt
Roger was such a Great Guy! So glad I got to know him. Used to go to the store and he would sell me bones for my dog. Often saw him at Berean BB games. I am so Thankful to have seen him just a couple of months ago at a game. Always smiling and always friendly..He will be GREATLY missed by many…God Bless His family as you continue on…
Newton will not be the same without Roger. Our son worked for Roger, and loved him like a second father. There are many other youngsters who felt the same way. Goodbye our wonderful friend. We will miss u terribly.
Teresa and I were very sad to hear of Roger’s death. He was one of the nicest people we ever met. Roger was very generous with his time in helping St Mary’s School. One day I mentioned to him that we needed a three point line in the gym for basketball. A few days later I found him in the gym on his hands and knees putting it in! Thanks also to Peggy for all her volunteer work. Every Sunday that I went to Mass at St Paul’s at WSU, Roger was there and he was always happy to see me and to catch up on news from our families. I will miss him very much!
When I was a kid that lived across from Farrell’s, I remember meeting Roger for the first time. What stood out at me was his kindness. He always asked how I was doing. As years went by, we became good friends working together with legion baseball. Roger was a great friend to my family. He will truly be missed.
Roger Gillispie is a man I will always remember. Loved going to his store and visiting with him. Bought a lot of his peanut butter cookies (way to many), filets, and of course ham loaf. He was so nice when asking for sponsors for all of his baseball endeavors. I couldn’t say no to Roger when he needed sponsors. He was such a likable person. This town will miss him terribly. I know I will. Rest In Peace Roger. The Lord got a good one with you.
I grew up eating his ham loaf and visiting his store. Our hearts, love, prayers go out to you all.
Condolances to his family, I am so sorry for your loss.Roger was always kind,smiling and helpful.He will be sorely missed by many,myself included.
What a kind and caring man- I’m so saddened by his passing. I knew his sister a bit growing up, then met him through his store where my nephew worked for several years. Roger was a great mentor for many Newton youth. He’ll be missed.
Roger was a Newton icon, always had a smile and a wave. A life well lived. Deepest sympathy.
Roger was a great mentor for many of the young people in Newton. We always enjoyed his smiling face and kind heart. We will truly miss visiting with him at the meat market. Our deepest sympathy, thoughts, and prayers for the family.
Roger was a great guy. Always optimistic and such a sport enthusiast. I am so sorry for his early passing and send my sincere condolences to the family
I had just started working at Farrell’s Market when Roger bought it in 1976. I continued to work for him for the next 7 years, until finishing college.. He was always like the big brother I never had! He taught me so much about life, a good work ethic, a kind heart and forgiveness. I continued to visit him throughout the years whenever I got back to Newton. We would catch up, laugh and reminisce. Such a great guy and such a huge loss to Newton and all who knew him. RIP Buddy and Thanks for everything!
Roger was such a great guy. He accomplished many things, his meat market business and working with kids in the sports area. The community has lost a wonderful person. Our thoughts, prayers and sincere sympathy to Peggy and family.
I have known Roger since elementary school and we played on the same Little League baseball team. I am certain that whenever the All Star team takes the field in Heaven, Roger will be on third base. He was the best friend a person could have and will be missed by everyone. My condolences to Peggy and his family members for their loss.
I last saw Roger when visiting family in October. Seeing him behind the counter made me feel like some things actually don’t change. We talked about how many small markets Newton had in the past (he directed me to a news story on the wall), some of the brands, like Shur Fine that were carried on 1st Street (he couldn’t believe I remembered) and how my Grandmother put her groceries on a house account there when I was young. I know he will be missed by many and for many reasons. My condolences to the family.
I just found out about Rogers passing and he was not only a dear friend but part of the Mitchell Family. Roger is a testament to what it means to be a true, loving, selfless and caring human being. He has done so much for many of us and he is already sorely missed but lived in my and I know all of our hearts! As we say here in Hawaii, A Hui Hou (never goodbye, but see you later). Aloha Roger! <3