Harold E. Church

KELLY SEED COMPANY

Harold Church, 94, of Peoria Heights died at 11:00 p.m. February 25, 2011 at home surrounded by his family.

He was born April 10, 1916 on the family farm in Stark Co., son of Wallace H. and Annie Kermode Church. He married Helen Roark in 1939.

Also surviving are two daughters, Nancee Vespa (Nicholas) of Peoria, Patricia Johansen (Ralph) of Columbus, IN; one son, Stephen Church (Kathy) of Peoria Heights; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Ryckaert (Jeff) of West Dundee, Nicholas Vespa (Renee) of Germantown Hills, Laurel Harpster (Donald) of Indianapolis, IN, Sarah Cannon (Eric) of Indianapolis, IN, Jason Church (Erin) of Peoria, Matthew Church (Stephanie) of Peoria, and Dr. Justin Church (Rachel) of NC; five great grandchildren, Nicholas Vespa, Andrew Vespa, Douglas Cannon, Addison Church, Hayden Church, and two beautiful adopted great grandchildren, Tristian and Rydia; two step great grandchildren, Mackinley and Amelia; and one sister, Lura Christiansen of Ft. Myers, FL. Harold was preceded in death by two brothers, Rollin and Charles Church and one sister, Maureen Tumbleson, and a grandson, Douglas Church Johansen.

Reared on a farm in Stark Co., Harold attended a one room school located near his home outside Lafayette and then completed his education in Toulon and Kewanee.

In 1936, he left the farm and came to Peoria looking for work. He interviewed with W.G. Kelly and was hired by Mr. Kelly for $15 a week. Harold had a deep respect for Mr. Kelly and worked for him for twenty years. When Mr. Kelly retired, Harold and his wife, Helen, purchased the business and worked side by side for fifty years.

Harold never lost his love for the farm and felt at home discussing crops and farm prices with the farmers who shopped with him at the store. Even at the age of 94, he liked nothing better than planting a garden with his son, Steve and being surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

He and Helen enjoyed the adventure of traveling together and exploring antique shops along the way. He was also an avid fisherman and never missed the opportunity to spend time in Minnesota.

Harold was a member of the National Society of Mayflower Descendants, Zeally Moss Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Peoria Historical Society. He was also a nearly 50 year member of the Rotary Club of Peoria where he was a Paul

Harris Fellow. He especially enjoyed his association with the many fine men and women of that organization.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Doctors David Johnson, Barry Clemson, and Paul Dreyer who attended Harold with such compassion during his last illness and to the dedicated nurses at OSF Medical Center.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2011 from 5 to 7 pm at Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Funeral Home. The Rev. Karl Kraemer will officiate. Burial will be at Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, IL.

Memorials may be made to the neo-natal unit of the OSF Children's Hospital, the Peoria Heights Congregational Church, or the OSF Hospice Program.