IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Wilbur
Fitzjarrald
February 15, 1921 – December 22, 2014
Obituary
Wilbur Fitzjarrald, 93, of Arthur, passed away at 10:44 AM Monday, December 22, 2014 at Carriage Crossing Senior Living Center in Arcola, with his loving wife by his side.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, January 3, 2014 at the Arthur United Methodist Church, 128 E. Illinois Street, with Rev. Leroy Allison officiating. Military rites accorded by the Arthur American Legion Post #479 and the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.
The youngest of 6 children, Wilbur was born to Joe R. and Etta Hutchings Fitzjarrald on February 15, 1921 in Oilfield, Clark County, Illinois. Wilbur married M. Maxine "Maxi" Brown McMillan of Charleston on March 2, 1965, in Springfield.
Wilbur is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Maxine; one daughter, Cheryl (Hugh) Pace of Arizona; two sons, Kevin (Sheryl) Fitzjarrald of Urbana; Kerry (Mary Jo) Fitzjarrald of Tuscola; stepson, Doug (Debra) McMillan of Pueblo, Colorado; stepdaughter, Debbie McMillan Kleiss of Tuscola; 11 grandchildren, Jered Blackwell, Jeremy (Ashley) Blackwell, Josh (Melissa) Blackwell, Sami (Garrett) Anderson, Rendy Fitzjarrald, Jason (Nicole) Fitzjarrald, Alex Fitzjarrald, Piper McMillan, Ryan Kleiss, Dylan Kleiss, and honorary grandson from Venezuela, Flavio Baffigo. Also surviving are six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Everett and Lawrence Fitzjarrald; sisters, Blanche Woods, Delores Turner, Edith Jurgens; and two grandsons, Jordan Blackwell and Jesse Douglas Kleiss.
After attending Arthur public school, Wilbur went on to graduate high school from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia in 1939. He then attended the U of I and a Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri. Wilbur enlisted in the Navy in 1942 where he served in Europe and Asiatic Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946, and returned to his family business in Arthur to manage Progress Farms and a group of family farms until he retired.
Wilbur was known for his great sense of humor. Throughout his life he enjoyed daily coffee with the guys uptown. Along with his wife, Maxi, they enjoyed playing duplicate bridge, travel, the fighting Illini, and spending time with their wonderful friends.
Special thanks are given to the staff of Carriage Crossing Senior Living Center, who became like family and to Carle Hospice. Memorials are suggested to the Arthur United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.hilligossshraderfh.com.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, January 3, 2014 at the Arthur United Methodist Church, 128 E. Illinois Street, with Rev. Leroy Allison officiating. Military rites accorded by the Arthur American Legion Post #479 and the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.
The youngest of 6 children, Wilbur was born to Joe R. and Etta Hutchings Fitzjarrald on February 15, 1921 in Oilfield, Clark County, Illinois. Wilbur married M. Maxine "Maxi" Brown McMillan of Charleston on March 2, 1965, in Springfield.
Wilbur is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Maxine; one daughter, Cheryl (Hugh) Pace of Arizona; two sons, Kevin (Sheryl) Fitzjarrald of Urbana; Kerry (Mary Jo) Fitzjarrald of Tuscola; stepson, Doug (Debra) McMillan of Pueblo, Colorado; stepdaughter, Debbie McMillan Kleiss of Tuscola; 11 grandchildren, Jered Blackwell, Jeremy (Ashley) Blackwell, Josh (Melissa) Blackwell, Sami (Garrett) Anderson, Rendy Fitzjarrald, Jason (Nicole) Fitzjarrald, Alex Fitzjarrald, Piper McMillan, Ryan Kleiss, Dylan Kleiss, and honorary grandson from Venezuela, Flavio Baffigo. Also surviving are six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Everett and Lawrence Fitzjarrald; sisters, Blanche Woods, Delores Turner, Edith Jurgens; and two grandsons, Jordan Blackwell and Jesse Douglas Kleiss.
After attending Arthur public school, Wilbur went on to graduate high school from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia in 1939. He then attended the U of I and a Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri. Wilbur enlisted in the Navy in 1942 where he served in Europe and Asiatic Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946, and returned to his family business in Arthur to manage Progress Farms and a group of family farms until he retired.
Wilbur was known for his great sense of humor. Throughout his life he enjoyed daily coffee with the guys uptown. Along with his wife, Maxi, they enjoyed playing duplicate bridge, travel, the fighting Illini, and spending time with their wonderful friends.
Special thanks are given to the staff of Carriage Crossing Senior Living Center, who became like family and to Carle Hospice. Memorials are suggested to the Arthur United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.hilligossshraderfh.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wilbur Fitzjarrald, please visit our flower store.
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