Roger Lee Valerius

Roger Lee Valerius, 79, of Belleville, IL born January 23, 1934 in St. Louis, MO died Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville, IL.


He was a retired MSgt. from the U. S. Air Force after 20 years of service and also served a year in Vietnam in 1971. He worked seven years with the motor carrier safety unit of the California Highway Patrol; he was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, American Legion, Post 365 of Collinsville and a U. S. Air Force Vietnam War veteran.


He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard A. and Adele A., nee Niehoff, Valerius; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Louis and Margaret Pfeiffer; a brother-in-law, Donald Krausz; and a great-nephew, Ben Krausz.


He is survived by his wife, Doris E., nee Pfeiffer, Valerius whom he married in Belleville, IL on March 7, 1953; a sister, Mary Lou Krausz and husband, Clarence Richards of Mascoutah, IL; a nephew, Danny (Lisa) Krausz of Mascoutah, IL; two nieces, Danette (Mike) Wesselmann and Deanna (Robert) Miley, both of Mascoutah, IL; two great nieces, JaneAnne (Gene) Holten of Beleville, IL, and Danielle Urban of DeMotte, IN; three great nephews, Thomas and Kevin Wesselmann of Mascoutah, IL and Donald Urban of DeMotte, IN; a great-great nephew, Chase Holten of Belleville, IL; an aunt, cousins and friends.


Memorials may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, 5600 Old Collinsville Rd., Fairview Heights, IL 62208 or Belleville Area Humane Society, 1301 S. 11th Street Rd., Belleville, IL 62223.


Visitation: There will be no visitation.


Funeral: Private services will be held graveside for immediate family members only at Valhalla Gardens of Memory with Rev. Jeffrey Hemmer and Rev. Frederic W. Baue officiating.