James E Lippert

SOUTH  PEKIN ~ James Edward "Ed" Lippert, Sr., 84, of 307 Ripper St., passed away at 6:55 a.m., Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at his home.

Born January 1, 1927 in South Pekin to John and Cecil (Hayden) Lippert, he married Mary Lou Gosnell on November 2, 1942 in Pekin.

Surviving are 1 son, James E. Lippert, Jr. of South Pekin; 1 daughter, Rebecca Decker of South Pekin; 4 grandchildren Michael Boyer, Richard Lippert, Shawn Dailey, and Jed Decker; and 5 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers; and 2 sisters.

Ed served in the U.S. Navy for 11 and one-half years during World War II and the Korean War.

He worked as a carpenter and millwright out of Carpenters Local #644 for 50 years, retiring in 1982.

Ed was a member of Empire Lodge #126 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Pekin; Mohammed Temple, Shrine in Bartonville; Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria; William Schaefer American Legion Post #44; Roy L. King Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1232 and a life member of George Maple AMVETS Post #235, all in Pekin.  He was also a past president of the Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club in South Pekin.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday at the funeral home, with Masonic rites following the visitation at 7 p.m.  Burial will be in Woodrow Cemetery in rural Pekin.  Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy and the Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family.