Roland P. Harris

Monday, July 8, 2024

4:00 to 8:00 pm

Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

9:00 to 10:00 am

St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL

Mass of Christian Burial:

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

10:00 am

St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL

Roland P. Harris, 99 of Highland, IL, passed away on Thursday July 4, 2024, at Meridian Village in Glen Carbon, IL.

He was born on July 2, 1925, in Alhambra, IL to Irwin and Maybelle (nee Willmann) Harris. On June 17, 1947, Roland married the love of his life, Lorna Ritt, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland, IL.

Roland was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland.

Roland was 16 when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Two years later he tried to enlist in the Naval Air Corps. He was disappointed to have been rejected due to a hearing problem, but he answered the call when he was drafted into the Army two years later. After basic training and additional instruction at Fort Ord, in Oklahoma he was promoted to Staff Sergeant at 19 years old, to lead an artillery company manning a 105mm howitzer. His company saw action in the Philippines from late 1944 through VJ Day in 1945.

Roland grew up in Alhambra, Illinois, returning there in 1946. Soon after, he began studies in mortuary science and ultimately became a licensed funeral director.

An entrepreneur at heart, he soon purchased a furniture store/funeral home/ambulance business in Highland, Illinois later known as Harris Funeral Home.

As a leading Highland businessman, Roland became a fixture at the local Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Helvetia Sharpshooters, American Legion, VFWand Knights of Columbus. He was also a Board member or sometimes President of the Highland Home, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Latzer Library and Highland Historical Society. He also volunteered as a bridge instructor, sharing his love for the card game that he first learned on a troopship on the Pacific.

After health issues forced him to sell Harris Funeral Home and retire as a funeral director, he began a new career in banking – as the community service head for the First National Bank of Highland. Again, his job was assisting members of the Highland community on a daily basis. After 10 years in banking, Roland fully retired in 1987.

Always a history buff, Roland began writing a weekly article on the history of Highland and its many businesses and families in 1971 for the Highland News Leader.  Almost 2200 articles later, these articles are now being cataloged by the History Department of SIU-Edwardsville to preserve them digitally for posterity.

Over the past two decades, Roland worked tirelessly to preserve and restore various local and family cemeteries in the Highland area that had fallen into disrepair. He organized work crews of Boy Scouts and local residents to clear brush, repair tombstones and fix fences for those cemeteries. Along the way, he identified the gravesites of various Civil War veterans and other notable Highland ancestors.

For many years, Roland was a true ambassador for the Highland community. Among his many contributions was his portrayal of Louis Latzer, the founder of Pet Milk Company, in various tours and events at the Latzer Homestead. Roland and Lorna regularly donned the well-preserved period clothing of the Latzer’s to help set the mood at the annual benefit dinner for the Highland Historical Society.

Ten years ago, Roland took his love of history to a new level – he founded a museum. At the request of the leaders of the Highland Home, Roland donated his extensive collection of Highland memorabilia – photos, documents, advertising merchandise and other souvenirs – to the Home, which created a 6-room museum in its facility. Dozens of other Highland residents donated their materials, until the Highland Home Historical Museum boasted over 7000 items, some dating back to the 1800s. Recently, the museum’s artifacts were transferred to the Highland Historical Society and the Latzer Library.

Roland’s rare devotion to local history has been recognized on a state-wide level as well. In 2019 Roland was named the Illinois Historian of the Year by the Illinois Historical Society. Based on the nomination of the Madison County Historical Society, the award recognized Roland’s many efforts to preserve and share the history of Highland and its neighboring communities. The bust of Abraham Lincoln that Roland received as port of this honor is one of his most treasured possessions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Irwin and Maybelle Harris; wife, Lorna Harris, (4/22/2024); father and mother-in-law, Arthur and Myrtle Ritt; daughters, (in infancy), Mary Harris, Anne Harris; grandson, (in infancy), Nolan Harris; brother and sister-in-law, Udell and Cecelia Harris; brother-in-law, Walter Bellm; nephew-in-law, George Percy.

Roland is survived by sons, Paul Harris, Oregon, John (Lucy) Harris, St. Louis, MO, Mark (Mimi) Harris, Chicago, IL, Luke (Amber) Harris, Glen Carbon, IL; daughter-in-law, Teresa(Mark) Kennedy; grandchildren, Hilary (Bryan) Crites, Halle Harris, Nathan (Christine) Harris, Brendan (Susan) Harris, Colin Harris, Shannon (Myles) Urban, Sean Harris, Will Harris, Eileen Harris, Blake (Amie) Harris, Rhett (Justine) Harris, Kailey (Bryan) Riegert, Eli (Madison) Harris, Miriah (Colten Strotheide) Harris; 4 great grandsons; 17 great granddaughters; sister-in law, Ellen Bellm, Panama City, FL; nieces, Kathleen (Jim) McDermott, Marilyn Percy, Debbie (Bob) Lyons.

Memorial donations may be made to Highland Area Community Foundation or St. Paul Education Foundation, Highland, IL.

Visitation: Monday, July 8, 2024, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, at Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL, and Tuesday, July 9, 2024, from 9:00 to 10:00 am, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 10:00 am, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL

Clergy: Fr. Pat Jakel, Pastor; Con-Celebrants, Fr. Steve Pohlman, and Fr. Bob Jallas

Interment: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Highland, IL

Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL