Roger Lee Kratochvil

 

Roger Lee Kratochvil passed away on Monday, June 30, 2026 at his residence in Mt. Olive, IL. He was 88 years old.

 

Roger was born on May 10, 1938 to Louis Kratochvil and Norma (Simburger) Kratochvil in White City, IL. He attended White City Public Grade School until May of 1952, and graduated from Mt. Olive High School with the Class of 1956. Roger earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Eastern Illinois University in 1960. He began his teaching career with the Mt. Olive Community Unit #5 School District in that same year. Roger married Mary G. Scheller on August 10, 1963 at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, IL, and she survives.

 

Roger continued to hone his career as an educator. He earned a Master of Science in Secondary Education in History from Southern Illinois University in 1966, and a Master of Science in Administration from the University of Illinois, Springfield in 1984. While pursuing his education, he was also a baseball player. At Eastern Illinois University, he was a four year letterman in baseball. He held the RBI record for 20 years. Roger played for Coe Investment Junior and Senior League baseball teams in Springfield, IL from 1955 to 1960 and was a starter on the Springfield City Water and Light team who played in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1958. He also played 20 years for the White City 3M baseball championship teams from 1953 until 1972 where he managed the team for 3 years. Roger was honored as a distinguished member by the Bottomly, Ruppert, Schalk Baseball Museum in Nokomis, IL on September 9, 2017.

 

During 24 of his 34 years of tenure with the Mt. Olive School District, Roger worked as a social studies teacher, but he also served as a driver’s education teacher and a guidance counselor. Roger also coached high school football, basketball and baseball while also serving as the athletic director. In the last ten years of service to his students, he held the position of Mt. Olive High School principal. Other jobs Roger had was working for the Regional Office of Education as a Starlab coordinator from 1995 to 2016, and as a St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Scout from 1979 to 2002 where he conducted all of the Busch Stadium pre-draft and open camps.

 

Roger had an impressive list of volunteer activities and honors. As a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, he served on the church council, as church secretary and treasurer, and the chairman of the church’s 150th anniversary celebration. He was president of the Mt. Olive Park Board. Roger was elected as the Mt. Olive City Treasurer a position he served in for five and a half years. He was elected to the Illinois High School Association Legislative Advisory Board for four years while serving as Mt Olive High School principal. Roger was appointed to the Illinois High School Association Baseball Advisory Committee and a member of the organizing committee for the Prairie State School Conference where he served as president of the conference and the South Central Conference. He was elected to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1980, and the Eastern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. Roger was also appointed by Illinois Governors to the Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees in 2004 and 2010, and has served as Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Board twice. He was appointed in 2004 by the Macoupin County Board to the Macoupin County Housing Authority and served as chairman until his death. He served as a member of the Macoupin County Sheriff’s and Walmart’s Scholarship committees. Roger was appointed to the Lincolnland College Advisory Council from 2007 until 2014. He was a member of the Mt. Olive Lions Club before it ended its existence and was a member of the Mt. Olive Turner Hall for over 30 years. Roger was the organizer of the Celebrity Bell Ringers for the Mt. Olive Care Center from 2004 until 2010. He was a local historian who spoke to school children and numerous groups from Central Illinois while authoring over 50 columns in the Mt. Olive Herald and 60 columns in an area newsmagazine, The Buzz. Roger was the first and only president of the Mt. Olive Academic Foundation from 1996 to 2026, and a regular guest on WSMI radio Sports on Saturday and Wednesday mornings discussion program and honored to be on it with his son, Tim. He was first appointed and then elected to the Mt. Olive Township Board from 2018 to 2025.

 

Roger is survived by his wife, Mary, a daughter, Jane Francine Kratochvil, and grandchildren: Jack William Kratochvil, Luke (Riley) Timothy Kratochvil, Olivia Marie Kratochvil and nephew, Brian Newquist.

 

He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Roger Kratochvil, his parents, Louise Sr. and Norma Simburger Kratochvil, two brothers: Louis “Junior” Kratochvil and Donald Ray Kratochvil, a sister Mary Ann Newquist, brother-in-law, Donald Newquist and a niece Laura Newquist.

 

Visitation will take place at the Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, IL on Monday, July 6, 2026 from 9 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. A service officiated by Pastor Zachary Krampien will begin at 1:00. Interment will take place at Union Miner’s Cemetery in Mt. Olive, IL. Lunch for friends and family will take place immediately after interment at Zion Lutheran Church Hall.

 

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Mt. Olive Zion Lutheran Church, Mt. Olive Academic Association and Benld Adopt-A-Pet.

 

Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Anyone wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at beckerandson.com.