Roger Yilek

Roger Joseph Yilek 1958 - 2024

Roger Joseph Yilek passed away on May 30, 2024, after being ill for a short time with pancreatic cancer. He battled kidney cancer for many years but had gone into remission five years ago.

Roger was born on 05/08/1958 to Ordelta “Irene” Fowler and Joseph Walter Yilek in Fontana California. He lived in San Bernardino California for a short time, before moving to Grants Pass, Oregon where he grew up and graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1976. While in high school, he worked as dishwasher and made his way up to assistant manager at North’s Chuck Wagon. He moved to Medford Oregon after graduating. He managed a Sambos Restaurant there and also a local favorite, The Bonanza Room Dinner House and Lounge. He opened and managed The Pear Tree Restaurant in Talent, Oregon and eventually went into sales with Farmer Bros Coffee. He met and married Catherine Anne Brick in Medford Oregon in 1983. They had two children, Linda Elaine Yilek and Aaron Joseph Yilek. Deciding that jumping in and out of a truck delivering to restaurants was not for him, he took a sales job with Sysco Restaurant Solutions and after a year, was recruited by a Food Services of America sales Representative and accepted a sales position in the Grants Pass area. He later transferred in the same position to the Medford area. He spent many years with FSA, and eventually the company became U.S. Foods. Altogether he worked for the company for 35 years. He transferred with the company in 1997 from Medford to Springfield Oregon and became a district manager and before U.S. Foods bought Food Services of America, he was a regional sales manager. He retired from U.S. Foods in a sales position in December 2022.

Roger loved football and followed the San Franscico 49ers and went to many games with many friends and his son Aron. When he moved to Springfield, not too far from Autzen Stadium, he began to love his Oregon Ducks, going to many games and watching all the rest on TV. Roger and Cathy developed a love of camping in their RV trailer and loved “glamping.” He also loved going to the Casinos, and he was  partial to Seven Feather Casino. He loved gambling, great food and live music. He was very hard-working, starting early and leaving late. The relationships he built will not be forgotten. He had many, many friends and they are all worth gold. He will be sorely missed. No services are planned at his request. He is survived by his wife, Cathy, and his children, Linda and Aaron, with his wife Whitney, along with his brother Fred Yilek and wife Charlotte, sister-in-law Edy Hagel and brother Perry Coon. His father, mother, and brother Jay Hagel precede him. Roger and Cathy had been married 40 years.

Remembrances may be made to Providence Cancer Institute Franz Clinic and Research. They were wonderful in caring for him. Roger passed away at home peacefully.