Roland Best

Roland "Rollie" William Best, 79, of Decatur, Illinois went to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 16, 2013 in his home with his loving family by his side. A service to celebrate Roland's life will be at 1pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, Decatur, Illinois. Roland will be laid to rest in Point Pleasant Cemetery. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation beginning at 11 am, Wednesday until service time at the church. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, the American Heart Association or the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU, 315 West Carpenter Street, Springfield, Illinois 62702. Roland was born in Little York, Illinois, the only child to Charles Lacely Best and Anna Elizabeth (Kitterman) Best. Roland lost his father at age three. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Little York and graduated as co-valedictorian of his Little York High School class in 1951. He attended Western Illinois University as a freshman and then transferred to Monmouth College where he graduated with a degree in Chemistry in 1955. While at Monmouth, Roland was a member of the Independent Men's Club, Chemistry Club, and was on the rifle team. Roland then attended the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin and the University of Iowa for graduate work. He worked at Kimberly Clark Company in Munising, Michigan and served six years (active and inactive) in the United States Army. He was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Edgewood, Maryland. In 1961, Roland came to Decatur, Illinois where he worked at A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company (now Tate and Lyle North American) for 37 years retiring in 1998. He then worked an additional five years as a consultant there. Roland truly enjoyed his work, and he and several colleagues were honored with a wonderful retirement celebration. Roland married Betty Jean Krogh of Iowa City, Iowa in the Tiffin Methodist Church on June 9, 1957. To this marriage were born two children, Janet Regine and Mark William. Roland was an avid reader and loved solving puzzles. He loved to travel and did lots of it during his working years and after retirement. Roland could fix just about anything and passed this skill on to his son and grandson, Brandon. Roland was a member of the American Chemical Society, the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, and the American Heart Association where he served as President and then taught advanced CPR for many years. Roland loved the church and was a member of First United Methodist Church for over fifty years where he served as Sunday School Superintendent and was a member of the United Methodist Men and Retired Methodist Men's groups. He served as Chairman of the Trustees Committee as well as many other committees, and served in the ministries of Sunday morning rides to church and the prayer chain. He was also a member and officer of the beloved Covenant Sunday School Class. Roland was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, an uncle and three cousins. Surviving are his wife, Betty; son, Mark (Paula) Best and step-granddaughter, Ashley Heidman all of San Diego, California; grandson, Brandon Best of Decatur; and daughter, Dr. Janet (Thomas) Albers; as well as grandchildren, Christine, T.J. and Zachary Albers, all of Springfield. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes are assisting the family with arrangements. The family would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr. Lauri Lopp and Dr. Harald Lausen of SIU Center for Family Medicine as well as Dr. Aziz Khan of the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU; the Decatur Memorial Hospice Program; and Pastors Kent and Kathy King-Nobles and Pastor Miley Palmer as well as all their friends of First United Methodist Church and other friends who helped in so many ways with love and support in recent months. Betty would also like to thank her family for all of their love and support during this difficult time. "
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