Clarence Culkin
Clarence Edward Culkin, 94, of Wilmington, NC formerly of Forrest and Bloomington passed away at 1:21 am on Friday, December 22, 2017, at the Commons at Brightmore in Wilmington, NC.
A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 29 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth with Father Richard Brunskill officiating. Burial will follow at Forrest Township Cemetery with full military rites accorded. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Forrest, IL; the rosary will be recited at 3:30 pm prior to visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to Apostolic Christian Timber Ridge, 2125 Veterans Rd. Morton, IL 61550.
Clarence was born July 28, 1923, on the family farm in Charlotte Township, the son of Arthur T. and Blanche L. (Trunk) Culkin. He attended a country school, Bugan Grade School, and Chatsworth Township High School. Clarence graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago in 1942. He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945.
Clarence married Elizabeth A. Aberle on June 26, 1948, at St. Mark’s Church in Peoria. She passed away in 2013 after 65 years of marriage. In 1948, Clarence was employed with a funeral home in Peoria and Bloomington. In 1951, he purchased Brown Funeral Services of Forrest, IL. In October 1952, Clarence built a funeral home in Forrest, and later in August of 1964, built the funeral home in Chatsworth. He owned and operated those two locations until his retirement in 1983.
Clarence proudly served as a first Lieutenant in the United States Army in the medical administrative corps during WWII. He graduated from officers’ candidate school and served in the Army Reserves until 1954.
He was the former Village of Forrest Treasurer, a member and past president of Forrest Lion’s Club, President of Forrest Community Council and President of the Forrest PTA. In 1959, he was voted “Forrest Man of the Year” and received the TP+W “Tee Pee Willie” award. He was a charter member of S.E.L.C.A.S. ambulance service in Fairbury and an Illinois Funeral Directors Association member. He served as Livingston County Board Member from District 4 for five years. He was also a board member of Peoria Heights Bank.
Clarence also belonged to the JA Folwell American Legion in Forrest for 60 years, where he served on the firing squad for military rites for many years. He was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Fairbury, IL and later, at St. Patrick Catholic Church of Merna in Bloomington where he was a 4th-degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
Clarence is survived by his daughters: Diane (John) Hoke of Carbondale, IL and Teresa (Steve) Flury of Wilmington, NC; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Mary Lou (Tom) Culkin of Fairbury, IL. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth; two sons, Thomas and Michael Culkin; his parents, one sister, Marie (Culkin) Casson, and three brothers; Charles Culkin, Virgil Culkin, and Francis Culkin.
Clarence was a loving husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa, uncle and friend who will be dearly missed.
This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to the family at calvertmemorial.com.
Erma Hamilton
Erma Jean Hamilton, 93, of Cropsey, passed away at 2:30 p.m., December 22, 2017, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, December 27,2017, at Cropsey United Methodist Church. Pastor Gifty Smith will be officiating. Burial will be in Cropsey Township Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. also on Wednesday at the church.
Memorials may be made to Cropsey United Methodist Church or the donor’s choice of charity.
Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.
Erma was born December 27, 1923, in Cropsey the daughter of Arthur and Clara C. Brucker Seifert.
She married Kenneth Hamilton. He passed away in 1992.
Surviving are 10 nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter.
An online registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
