Willard A. Russell, 79, of 251 Johnson St., East Peoria, died at 6:07 p.m. Monday Nov. 23, 2009, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Born July 27, 1930, in Green County, Ky., to Roy and V. McKinney Russell, he married Patsy L. Walker in Louisiana in 1953. He later married Betty Garber Aug. 11, 1979, in East Peoria. She survives along with three daughters, Peggy Ann (Jim) Crain Sr. of Hong Kong, China, Nancy Lynn (Ben) Polhaus of Pekin and Becky Sue Wood of Peoria; two sons, Willard A. “Rusty” Russell Jr. of Bartonville and Edwin Neal Russell of Peoria; four step-sons, Gary (Joan) Biggs of Bunker Hill, Brian (Diane Finney) Biggs and Bruce Biggs both of East Peoria and Kevin (Beth Ann) Biggs of Washington; one step-daughter, Cheryl Biggs of East Peoria; 17 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and one brother, Max (Margie)Russell of Peoria.
He was preceded in death by one sister.
He was an Army veteran having worked with flaming ordnance, a member of the Farmington Sportsman’s Club, and a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in East Peoria. He retired from Caterpillar Tractor Co. Inc. as a welder in 1982 after 33 years of service.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in East Peoria. The Rev. Kurt Mews will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Remmert Funeral Home in East Peoria and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. An Interment service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria.
Memorials may be made to the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Building Fund.
On-line tributes and condolences may be made at www.remmertfuneralhome.com.
East Peoria, Ill. —
