Gracie Kissee

Gracie L. Kissee, 88, of Mount Pulaski died at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2000, at Vonderlieth Living Center in Mount Pulaski.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski, with John Robertson officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Pulaski Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Kissee was a homemaker.

She was born Nov. 22, 1912, at Mount Pulaski to Jasper C. and Edna E. (Harris) Allen. She married Roy Sheridan Callahan on Sept. 23, 1933, in Erwin, Tenn. He died Nov. 8, 1964. Her second marriage was to John B. Kissee on July 25, 1955, in Illiopolis. He died July 25, 1970.

Surviving are one daughter, Gladys (and Charles) Letterle of Mount Pulaski; one son, Rondal (and Delight) Callahan of Tama, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, one son, one daughter, nine brothers, two sisters and four grandchildren.

She was a member of Gospel Center Church of Tama, Iowa, and Moose Lodge in Lincoln.

Memorials may be made to American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association.

Click here to send a note of condolence to the family of Gracie Kissee.


Harold Keest

Harold H. Keest, 89, of Lincoln, died at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000, at his residence.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, at Holland and Barry Funeral Home in Lincoln, with the Rev. Richard Reinwald officiating.

Burial will be in New Union Cemetery, Lincoln.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at the funeral home.

Keest was a grain and livestock farmer in Logan County.

He was born June 25, 1911, in Menard County to Harman C. and Margaret "Maggie" (Coorts) Keest. He married Hilda Apel on Feb. 14, 1946, in Lincoln, with the Rev. J.H. Hoefer officiating.

Keest is survived by his wife, in Lincoln, and a large group of friends.

He was preceded in death by three sisters: Leona Fagan and two who died in infancy.

He was a member of St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln, where he was a former brotherhood member and served as treasurer. He was also a member of the Logan County Farm Bureau.

He did water witching in Logan County and the surrounding area and was very successful.

Memorials may be made to his church or Christian Village Nursing Home.

 

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Julian Sams

Julian "J.T." Tomlinson Sams, 78, of Mount Pulaski died at 3:40 p.m. Monday, Dec. 25, 2000, at St. John’s Hospice in Springfield.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, at the First United Methodist Church of Mount Pulaski, with the Rev. Dr. James Mahaffey officiating.

Burial, with military rites, will be in Mount Pulaski Cemetery.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski.

Sams was a retired farmer. He was also retired as a "Red Coat," working with sports information at the University of Illinois.

He served in the Marines during World War II.

He was born March 29, 1922, in Decatur to Walter G. and Helen I. (Tomlinson) Sams. He married Betty Yontz on Sept. 14, 1947, in Chrisman. They were divorced in 1985. He married Carolyn R. Leesman in Mount Pulaski on March 22, 1986. She survives.

Also surviving are a stepson, Douglas R. Leesman of Emden; a stepdaughter, Kathryn R. Webb of Carbondale; and two step-grandchildren, Stephanie Leesman of Latham and Austin Troxell of Latham.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marines Sept. 16, 1942 and was discharged as a staff sergeant Dec. 14, 1945, from the United States Marine Air Casual Squadron and Marine Corps Air Depot, Maramar, San Diego, Calif. He served most of his time in the Philippines with the Victorious Maintenance Bombing Squad (VMB).

He was a life member of American Legion Post 447, serving two terms as commander; a member of Sons of the American Legion Post 447; a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 777; and a member of 40 and 8.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Mount Pulaski, where he was a trustee and a member of the Men’s Club and Wesleyan class. He was also a member of Mount Pulaski Township Historical Museum and Mount Pulaski Men’s Club.

Memorials may be made to American Legion Post 447 or First United Methodist Church of Mount Pulaski.

Click here to send a note of condolence to the Sams family.

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