Meet Your Neighbor Nick Roark of Media.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Susan Galbraith, Quill Reporter
Meet Your Neighbor Nick Roark of Media.
Nick is a custodian at West Central Middle School in Stronghurst.
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Lomax.
In 1976 Nick graduated from Dallas City High School. Nick said, "I will never forget it as it was the Bicentennial year".
He married JoEllen Lenz on September 15, 1978. They will celebrate their 32nd anniversary this year.
He and JoEllen have a daughter Nicole (28), who is married to B. J. Nance and live in Hardin.
Nicole is a 7th grade math and algebra teacher and B. J. is a mud/drywall finisher. They recently moved into a new home and B. J. did all the finishing work.
Nicole and B. J. also lst month gave Nick and JoEllen their first grandchild, Robert Walters Nance III, born January 26, 2010.
Their son, Gerry (22), is a senior at Blackburn College at Carlinville with a double major in business management and accounting and with a minor in economics.
His parents, Virgil and Hazel Worley, are both deceased.
Nick has one brother, Gene Roark. Gene has two sons, Richard and Bobby.
He has a foster brother, Joe Worley, and a foster sister, Sally Manard. Three foster siblings are deceased, Morse and Gilbert Worley and Judy Grisham.
JoEllen and Nick are members of the United Presbyterian Church in Media. Nick is a trustee and JoEllen is Clerk of Session and also a trustee of the Media Village board.
For 21 years Nick has lived in Media and is presently the Mayor.
For enjoyment Nick loves to go fishing with his son when he is home.
He is also an I.H.S.A. official for baseball and softball, a Mason and an ambulance driver for the Stronghurst community for 25-30 years.
Foremost, Nick is truly a servant to the community. He said, "If you need anything done call me. I'd be glad to help you out". Many in the community are very appreciative of Nick's servant heart.