Published on July 30, 2025 9:54 am
Last Updated on August 1, 2025 6:26 am
Pastor Roger Dale Long, age 69, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 6:40 PM – Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Early in the evening on Tuesday, July 29th, Heaven welcomed a new resident. Roger had been a citizen of the Kingdom of God for the past 62 years, ever looking forward to his arrival home. He was preceded by both of his parents and an older brother John, who were there to welcome him.
One of those looking forward to joining him again one day is his wife, Charlene, with whom he spent fifty wonderful years. Also looking to see him again, are his four children, Joshua (Jillian) Long, Rachel (David) Strauch, Caleb Long, and Abbie (Mike) Tonn and ten grandchildren Hannah Strauch, Grace Strauch, Sarah Strauch, Luke Strauch, Ryleigh Long, Ivan Long, Darren Long, Trevor Tonn, Blake Tonn and Madison Tonn. Siblings Jackie Cundeff, Karen Griffith, Penny Ross, Tim (Sue) Long, Paul (Tabetha) Long and Shelly Andrews. While he holds claim to being a loving husband, a caring father, and a strong friend, most of all he never hid being a follower of Christ.
One’s success in life is not measured by the coins in one’s pocket but by the lives one has impacted. For this, he was a very rich man. Whether during his twenty-five years in the factory or the nineteen years as a Baptist Pastor, he did his part to improve the lives of everyone around him. He was loving enough to welcome all just as they were, wise enough to aid those seeking guidance, and humble enough to say, “I don’t know, but let’s figure it out together.”
I am confident in saying that Roger’s greatest wish would be for you to know The Savior the way he did, celebrate the Godly example he strived to live, and carry on the torch he so faithfully used to light the way for others. John chapter four tells us that many times one will sow the seed and another will harvest. Roger was faithful enough to harvest that which those before him had sown. Will we be faithful to cultivate the seeds he has sown and work diligently to bring in the harvest he has left for us?
Roger was born on April 7, 1956, in Saint Charles, Illinois, the son of Eugene and Luella (Davis) Long. He married the love of his life Charlene Roley on September 20, 1975, at the Greenland Baptist Church near Beecher City, Illinois.
Roger was called to the ministry at an early age and preached the Gospel for over 50 years. After graduating from Beecher City High School with the Class of 1974, he worked at World Color Press in Effingham for 25 years. In an effort to pursue ministry full time, he left the factory to attend the Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. Roger spent the last 18 ½ years of his ministry serving as the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Newton, Illinois.
Roger was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Newton, Illinois and was a volunteer at the Family Life Center for many years.
Roger enjoyed building model cars and trucks and was an avid John Wayne fan.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM – Friday, August 1, 2025, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with a celebration of Roger’s life to follow with Pastor Justin Painter and Pastor David Armstrong officiating. In loving memory of Roger, memorials may be made to the family. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.