Person Page - 6006

     Russell Thomas Smith was buried at Goose Creek Township Cemetery (also known as DeLand Cemetery), DeLand, Piatt Co., Illinois.⁴ He was born on October 21, 1952.⁴ He married Barbara Lee Sizemore on August 12, 1989 at Monticello, Piatt Co., Illinois.^4,3 Russell Thomas Smith died on June 8, 2018 at Farmer City, DeWitt Co., Illinois, at age 65.^3,4 He DeLAND — Russell Thomas Smith, 65, of DeLand passed away at 5:15 p.m. Friday (June 8, 2018) at Farmer City Rehab and Health Care. Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at Weldon United Methodist Church with the Rev. C. Don Ferrill officiating. Burial will follow in DeLand Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 11, 2018, at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton. Russell was born Oct. 21, 1952, in Decatur, the son of Lonnie and Imogene (Martin) Smith. He married Barbara L. Sizemore on Aug. 12, 1989, in Allerton Park, Monticello. Survivors include his wife, Barb Smith of Monticello; son, Todd (Jen) Smith of Charleston; daughter, Kristin (Christopher) Greer of Monticello; stepdaughter, Tricia (Chad) Trimble of Champaign; stepson, Shawn (Tisha) Leischner of Bloomington; stepson, Shannon (Anne) Leischner of Washington, Ind; four grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and siblings, Connie (Rich) Blazier of Urbana, Martha (Galen) Martin of Ashland and Michael Smith of Rantoul. He was preceded in death by his parents. Heaven received one of the most precious, gentle souls on earth. Russ always carried a smile, made people laugh with his hilarious cartoon impersonations and never knew a stranger. He was a diesel technician, agriculture engineering enthusiast and a detail-oriented farmer. Russ enjoyed fishing, bowling, spending time with his grandchildren and spreading joy to everyone in his presence. He never hurried a day in his life, but took his time, enjoyed every meal and every moment. He served on the DeLand-Weldon school board for 12 years. Russ was a constant source of God’s love by radiating heaven on Earth and inspiring everyone he knew to be better people. on June 10, 2018.³

     His Social Security Number was 334-12-2691.⁵ Harold Francis Kirk was buried at Croninger Cemetery, Cisco, Piatt Co., Illinois.^6,3 He was born on May 25, 1919 at Cerro Gardo, Piatt Co., Illinois.^5,2,3,4 He married Eleanor J. Smith, daughter of Paul Benedict Smith and Letha Susan Marker, on August 17, 1940 at Steelville, Crawford Co., Missouri.¹ Harold Francis Kirk and Eleanor J. Smith were divorced before 1949.³ Harold Francis Kirk died on February 20, 1982 at Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois, at age 62.^5,2,3 He Harold F. Kirk, 62, of Niantic died 8:30 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 20, 1982), in St. John's Hospital, Springfield. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, with visitation 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Croninger Cemetery, Cisco. Mr. Kirk was born in Piatt County, son of Robert and Ola Kirk. He was a retired employee of Caterpillar Tractor Co., a member of Niantic Christian Church, Niantic village board, Maroa Lions Club and received the Medal of Valor in World War II. He married Edna Henson in 1949. Surviving are his wife; son, Steve of Carbondale; daughters, Mrs. Stanley (Shannon) Cope of Moweaqua; Nancy Kent of Missouri; brothers, Chet of Monticello; Bob of Roodhouse; sister; NormaBur gess of Blue Grass, Iowa. One sister preceded him in death. on February 22, 1982.³

     Emily A. Vance was buried at Bement Cemetery, 233 East Morris Street, Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.^3,2,4 Her Social Security Number was 339-16-9792.¹ Her married name was Marker.⁴ She married John Russell Marker Jr., son of John Russell Marker and Margaret Lavina Smith.^4,3 Emily A. Vance was born on May 18, 1922 at Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.^1,2 She died on October 21, 2002 at Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana, at age 80.^1,2,4 She BLOOMINGTON - The funeral of Emily Marker Capes, 80, of Indianapolis, formerly of Bement, mother and sister of Bloomington residents, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, Bement. The Rev. Marsha Frederick will officiate. Burial will be in Bement Township Cemetery, Bement. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Roux-Hinds Funeral Home, Bement. She died at 11:25 p.m. Monday (Oct. 21, 2002) at St. Vincent's Hospice Center, Indianapolis. Bloomington survivors are a daughter, Kathryn Marker Snyder; and a sister, Dolly Vance Secord. Also surviving are her husband, Gordon M. Capes; two other daughters, Melinda M. Tibbals, Newburgh, Ind., and Peggy L. Zibert, Peoria; a son, James Vance Marker, Centerville, Ohio; a brother, George E. Vance Jr., Green Valley, Ariz; and 16 grandchildren. on October 24, 2002.⁴

     George Homer Wilkinson was buried at Bement Cemetery, 233 East Morris Street, Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.^2,3 He was born on July 11, 1911 at Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.³ He married Mildred Marker, daughter of John Russell Marker and Margaret Lavina Smith, on May 12, 1956 at Webster Groves, St. Louis Co., Missouri.¹ George Homer Wilkinson died on May 3, 2004 at Seattle, King Co., Washington, at age 92.^1,2 He BEMENT — George Homer Wilkinson, 92, of Bement died 1:10 p.m. Monday (May 3, 2004) in Seattle, Wash. Services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in First Presbyterian Church, Bement, with the Rev. Marsha Frederick officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday in the church. Burial will be in Bement Township Cemetery. Roux-Hinds Funeral Home, Bement, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials: First Presbyterian Church, Bement EMT Association or Parkinson's Foundation. Mr. Wilkinson was born July 11, 1911, in Bement, the son of Arthur Lewis and Etha Scott Wilkinson. He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bement, serving as elder, deacon, benevolence treasurer and adult Sunday school teacher. George was former president of the Bement Lions Club, former trustee of the Village of Bement and inducted as a member of the 50-year club of the Illinois Bankers Association in 1997. He graduated from Bement High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1933. While at the U of I, George was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He remained an avid Illinois alumni fan throughout his life. He served as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Force in World War II. After the war, he worked at Wilkinson Lumber Co. in Dalton City and then Wilkinson Building Center in Bement. In 1961, he became chairman and vice president of the State Bank of Bement and continued in that capacity until he became president in 1992. In 1981, he formed Bement Bancshares Inc., a multibank holding company that acquired 100 percent of the shares of the State Bank of Bement. In April 1984, Bement Bancshares Inc. acquired 100 percent ownership in the American Bank, Cerro Gordo, and The First National Bank of Ivesdale. Until his death, he served as president of Bement Bancsharesp Inc., chairman of the board and president of the State Bank of Bement, vice president of The American Bank, now State Bank of Cerro Gordo, and chairman of the board of The First National Bank of Ivesdale. He married Mildred Marker on May 12, 1956, in Webster Grove, Mo. Surviving are his wife; sons, Arthur R. (Karen) Wilkinson of Bement; George Mark Wilkinson and partner Paul Ediger of Seattle, Wash; granddaughters, Michelle (Rich) Gross and Tami (Brad) Wagers, both of Bement; great-grandchildren, Connor and Lauren Gross and Griffin Wagers; brother, Scott Wilkinson of Albuquerque, N.M; niece, Ann Wilkinson of Mountain View, Calif. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Alice Wilkinson; brother, Alfred Lewis 'Lew' Wilkinson; son, Terry Lee Wilkinson. on May 8, 2004.²

     Arthur R. Cox married Mildred Marker, daughter of John Russell Marker and Margaret Lavina Smith, in 1944.¹ Arthur R. Cox died in August, 1955.¹

     Larry Lee Bennett was buried at Edgar Cemetery, Edgar, Clay Co., Nebraska.² He was born on March 31, 1931 at Nuckolls Co., Nebraska.² He married Joyce Brooks on January 30, 1954.^2,3 Larry Lee Bennett died on October 23, 2021 at Kearney, Buffalo Co., Nebraska, at age 90.² He Former Hastings, Nebraska resident Larry L. Bennett, 90, passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021, at the Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 28, at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Hastings with Pastor Dustin H. Bower officiating. Burial with military rites will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, October 28, at Edgar Cemetery in Edgar. Larry was born March 31, 1931, to Arthur and Lena (Grossman) Bennett north of Angus, Nebraska on the family farm. He attended grammar school in Edgar, NE, and after moving to Hastings attended Hastings High School. He served his country during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. He was stationed at Ft. Richardson in Anchorage, AK. He married Joyce Brooks on January 30, 1954. They were married for 67 years. From this union came three children, Steve, Cheryl, and Tom. They made their home in Hastings. In 2014, Larry moved to the Veterans Home in Grand Island and then relocated to Kearney in 2019. Larry was a car enthusiast and worked as a body man most of his life. He worked for Laird Motors for 27 years and retired in 1993. He restored several cars including his daily driver – a 1940 Ford Coupe that was his pride and joy. Larry enjoyed traveling and had visited all 50 states and several other countries including Germany, Switzerland, and England. Larry and his wife were avid campers and enjoyed camping with his family and friends. Larry cherished his family, especially his grandkids and great-grandkids. His face would light up when they visited him late in life at the Veterans Home. Larry was a member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Fraternal Order of Eagles, American Legion, and Tri-City Street Rods. Larry was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Jean; and his son, Steve. Left to cherish Larry’s memory are his wife, Joyce Bennett; son, Tom (Renee) Bennett; daughter, Cheryl Popple; grandchildren, Brandon (Kelsie) Bennett, Lindsey (Colby) Schwan, Trevor (MaShayla) Popple, Jessie (Andrew) Mitchell, Kelly (Ryan) Van Wey; 11 great-grandchildren. on October 28, 2021.²

     Steven Arthur "Steve" Bennett was buried at Kearney Cemetery, Kearney, Buffalo Co., Nebraska.^2,3 He Steven A. Bennett, 61, of Kearney died Thursday, July 27, 2017 at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 am Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at the O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. The Rev. Dustin Bower will officiate. Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Mr. Bennett’s legend began on August 3, 1955, the oldest child of Larry and Joyce (Brooks) Bennett of Hastings, NE. He received his education at Hastings High School, graduating in 1973. He would later earn his bachelor’s degree from UNK in 2004. On September 2nd, 1978, Steve was united in marriage to Kimberly Parks. To this union, 2 children were blessed, Lindsey and Brandon. The marriage dissolved in 1990. Steve was employed by Eaton Corporation for 33 years, retiring in 2009. He was an avid outdoorsman. If you ever tried to find him on a weekend, most likely he would be at the lake camping and fishing, in the deer stand or duck blind. Some of his most cherished memories were from the hours he shared at deer camp with Lindsey and Brandon. He was a longtime member of the NRA, Ducks Unlimited, and Pheasants Forever. Steve was very active in Boy Scouts for many years. Steve was a collector however he never really decided what to collect, so he collected everything! In 2004, he built “Bennett’s Bookhouse” on his property to house and display his treasures but more importantly to provide a place for the family to gather on holidays and special occasions. Most of all, Steve cherished the time he spent with his family. His grandchildren, Harper and Quinn were his heart and joy. Survivors include his children Lindsey (Colby) Schwan of Staplehurst and Brandon (Kelsi) Bennett of Hampton; grandchildren Harper and Quinn Bennett; parents Larry and Joyce Bennett of Hastings; sister Cheryl Popple of Axtell; brother Tom (Renee) Bennett of Glenville; nieces Jessie Bennett and Kelly VanWey; nephew Trevor Popple. Steve was preceded in death by his infant son and his grandparents. Mr. Bennett’s legend will live on in all of our hearts and memories forever.² He was born on August 3, 1955 at Nebraska.^2,3 He married Kimberly Parks on September 2, 1978.² Steven Arthur "Steve" Bennett and Kimberly Parks were divorced in 1990.² Steven Arthur "Steve" Bennett died on July 27, 2017 at Kearney, Buffalo Co., Nebraska, at age 61.^2,3