Roy A. "Digger" Parker

Roy A. “Digger” Parker, 81, of Geneseo, passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 19, 2019, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  Deacon Harley Chaffee will officiate.  Burial will follow at North Cemetery.  Military honors accorded by Geneseo VFW, Don Cherry.  Visitation will be held from 5 -7 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to the Roy Parker Memorial Fund.

Roy was born on January 24, 1938, the son of James and Irene (Palmer) Parker, in Kewanee, IL.  He attended the Kewanee School District.  He proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1955 – 1959.  Roy married Marie Beauseigneur on April 24, 1965.  She preceded him in death in December of 1994.  He later married Joyce Carroll Bauwens, December 27, 2013, in Kewanee, IL.  He was employed by the City of Geneseo for 18 years as the sexton/superintendent of the Oakwood and North Cemeteries.  Roy was a lifetime member of the Geneseo Moose Lodge, Illowa Gem and Mineral Society, Blackhawk Gem and Mineral Club, National Insulators Club, and Quad City Stamp Club.  He liked to go fishing.  He enjoyed collecting coins, stamps, insulators, fishing lures, and telling stories.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife Joyce; daughter, Katie (Shawn) Russell, Pinckneyville, IL; grandchildren, Dakota (Taylor) Hinkle, Pinckneyville, IL, Caleb Russell,  Pinckneyville, IL; and one great-grandchild on the way, Jude; step-daughters,  Deb (Tom) Sherbeyn, Geneseo, Nancy (Ed) Archer, Tampa, FL, Shirley (Wes) Howe, Durant, IA, Cindy (Vince) Newton, Geneseo, 7 step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marie, and step-granddaughter Meghan.