Robert "Jake" Builta

Visitation will be from 4-7pm Thursday February 5, 2015 at East Lawn Funeral Home, 1102 Airport Rd. Bloomington, IL. His funeral services will be at 10 am on Friday February 6, 2015 at East Lawn Funeral Home with Rick Owens officiating. Burial will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the LeRoy Ambulance Service or the Ellsworth Fire Department.

Jake was born May 3, 1918 in rural Ellsworth, a son of Elton Bane and Floss Frankeberger Builta. He married Nora Taylor the loved of his life on September 13, 1941 in Clinton, Illinois. They shared 73 plus years of marriage.

Surviving are his wife of Ellsworth; two sons, Donald (Connie) Builta of Clinton, and Richard Builta of Farmer City; two daughters: Karen (Dave) Barron of rural Ellsworth and Cheryl Wyatt of Bloomington; ten grandchildren: Terri Hetman of Ellsworth; Scott (Nancy) Builta, of McLean, Doug Builta of Normal, Shannon Albertson of Bloomington, Greg (Karen) Builta of Farmer City, Tami (Lance) Spieker of Farmer City; Stacy Keiser of Normal; Sheila Kull of Bloomington, Christopher (Courtney) Wyatt of Downs and Michael (Amber) Wyatt of Bloomington, Nineteen great-grandchildren and a little boy on the way, Four great-great grandchildren; two sisters Mariam Moberly and Phyllis (Ed) Hudson both of Dallas, TX, a sister-in-law: Cora Builta of Ellsworth; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers: Bill, Abe, Buck, Jay and Garland; two sisters: Dorothy Wilson and Beverly Lee.

Jake joined the Civilian Conservation Corp as a truck driver working in Utah and Wisconsin. He farmed in the Ellsworth area, worked for the Ellsworth School System, Concessionaire of Dawson Lake and the Ellsworth Grain Company. Upon retirement he drove a school bus for Tri-Valley Unit #3 for 12 years.

Jake enjoyed life and spending time with his family. He attended all of his grandchildren’s sporting and school activities. He enjoyed eating out with Nora and drinking coffee on Thursday afternoons at K&S Furniture and Builta Floor Covering. He loved mowing his yard, playing rummy, riding in the combine and truck hauling grain to the elevator, taking vacations with family in the motorhome, riding around on the golf cart, helping with gardening, and enjoying the outdoors. He was a diehard cardinal fan and Illini fan. At 96 he passed his driver’s test and was very proud of his license.

Most of all Jake was a kind, fun, hardworking, gentle man who always put his family first. He never knew a stranger. He loved his family dearly and will be deeply missed.

A special thank you to his kind and gentle caregivers, Bev, Barb and Deb.