Roger C. Lefers

Roger C. Lefers, age 79, of Olympia Fields, IL, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2025. Roger was born on May 5, 1945 in Chester, South Dakota to Edmund and Florence Lefers. He was the third born of six children. He attended Corsica Christian School and Dakota Christian High School. He was the first of his family to attend college (Calvin College / University). During his studies at Calvin, he first met his future wife, Donna (Dykema), while he was on a summer service mission to Harlem, NY. His studies at Calvin were interrupted in May 1968 when he was drafted to the US Army during the Vietnam War, and during his first year of military service, he and Donna were married. Following his discharge from the army, he completed his studies at Calvin where he graduated with a double major in biology and chemistry. Donna and Roger moved to the Chicago area so Roger could continue his education at Northwestern University where he obtained his Master’s Degree in Medical Technology. Their family began to grow when Krista joined the family in 1973. In 1975, their son Mark was born, followed shortly by their daughter Amber in 1976. Two hallmarks of Roger’s life (and his family’s) were his passion for service and striving for racial reconciliation. Both these hallmarks were on full display through his service to Pullman Christian Reformed Church (CRC), Roseland Christian School (RCS), the Self-Help Jobs Program, Roseland Homes Commission, and Jackson Park Hospital (JPH). Pullman CRC, where both his and his wife Donna’s funeral services have been held, would not exist had it not been for the vision that they, along with six other couples, had for continuing the CRC’s presence on the south side of Chicago. Along with serving as a deacon, elder, and committee member for many years, Roger was a long-standing member of the choir where he could often be seen clapping off beat. Roger served on RCS’s board for many years along with starting and coaching RCS’s soccer team. All three of their children also attended and graduated from RCS, illustrating their commitment to Christian education on Chicago’s south side. Roger along with several others started the Self-Help Jobs Program in 1981 to help unemployed and  underemployed persons secure employment, and this program continues to this day, almost 45 years later. He also served as president of the Roseland Homes Corporation - a non-profit similar to Habitat for Humanity - that renovated homes for low-income families. He began his employment at Jackson Park Hospital in 1976 in Laboratory Management and worked his way to becoming one of the highly-respected hospital administrators in charge of eleven departments. He retired in 2006 after 30 years of service at JPH. While not serving the community and church, he enjoyed camping at the Indiana Dunes, traveling to see National Parks, attending to his tulips and garden, and spending time with family. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund and Florence; two brothers, Dean and Lawrie; brother-in-law, Clares; and his beloved wife of 41 years, Donna. He is survived by three of his siblings: Norma Lubben, Donna (Glen) VanderLey, and Wayne (Janet); two sisters-in-law Marilyn and Bev; his companion Velma Kellup; his three children, Krista Woods (and former son-in-law Mark), Mark (Diane), and Amber (Rachel); his twelve grandchildren: Kala McCoy, Kyle McCoy, Megan, Lexi (David), Luke, Andrew, Nia, Samiya, Isaiah, Emma, Noah, and Izzy; and his two great-grandchildren: James IV and Natalia. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Pullman CRC through Zelle at pullmancrc@att.net or Roseland Christian Ministries at ( roselandchristianministries.org/give-now/ )

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 5:00—8:00 p.m. at at Smits, DeYoung-Vroegh Funeral Home 649 E. 162nd St. (Rt.6/159th St.) South Holland, IL.  A wake will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. directly at Pullman Christian Reformed Church, 424 E 103rd St, Chicago, IL, with Pastor Gary K. Foster officiating.  Interment Oak Ridge Cemetery - Lansing, IL.

For further information, please contact 708-333-7000 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www.SMITSFH.com