Obituary index

George Nilhas Jr.

[March 31, 2011]  BUFFALO -- George John Nilhas Jr., 92, of Sherman, formerly of Buffalo, died Thursday, March 31, 2011, at 1 a.m. at Villa Health Care East in Sherman. 

Visitation will be 2-5 p.m. Sunday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski. His funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Mark Weber officiating.

Burial will be in Constant Cemetery, Buffalo, with military rites.

Mr. Nilhas was a custodian for the Tri-City School District when he retired in 1980. He had started working at age 16 for the Illinois Central Railroad and also worked as a farmhand for many years.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He was born on Dec. 15, 1918, in Cornland. His parents were George and Lilly Shannon Nilhas Sr. He married Iva Marie Pope on Jan. 26, 1945, in Dawson. She preceded him in death on May 28, 1994.

He is survived by one son, Kenneth (and Mari) Nilhas of Springfield; four daughters, Anna Floyd of Illiopolis, Joan Gettings of Illiopolis, Mildred (and George) Etter of Ashland and Barbara (and Michael) Nation of Springfield; one sister, Martha Pruitt of Stonington; 15 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by one brother, Arthur, and two grandchildren.

He was a member of the Buffalo Christian Church and Mount Pulaski Masonic Blue Lodge 87 AF & AM.

He loved pitching horseshoes, camping and bowling.

Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.

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