Everett L. Uhls

1928 - 2012

Everett Uhls

Retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Everett L. Uhls, 84, of Breese, Ill., born May 14, 1928, in Odin, Ill., died Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, at his home.

Mr. Uhls served in the United States Air Force during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War (1948-1969) where he earned the rank of senior master sergeant, and retired while stationed at Scott Air Force Base. He then served as a United States Government Contracting Procurement Officer for the Alaskan Indian Native Health Services as a civilian until his retirement in 1977 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Everett was nationally known as a pigeon fancier and judge, developing the standards of specific breeds. He was also a dog lover, breeding and showing German Shepherds throughout the nation and he was an avid Cardinals Baseball Fan.

He was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, lifetime member of the Breese Knights of Columbus Council 2869, Aviston American Legion Post 1239, and was a lifetime member of the Carlyle VFW Post 3523.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey, nee Thompson, Uhls, whom he married on May 1, 1954, at Williams Air Force Base, Chandler, Ariz., and who died Jan. 2, 1998; his parents, Emmett and Martha, nee Evans, Uhls; and sisters, Tiny Uhls in infancy and Alice Mae Deadmond.

Surviving are his children, Mary "Colleen" (Jerry) Moellering of Aurora, Colo., Joseph "Max" (Janet) Uhls of Highland, Ill., Laura Lee (Jerry) Poettker of St. Charles, Mo., and Karen (Ken) Ripperda of Breese, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Monica Moellering, Joey, Joshua (Vanessa), and Jordan Uhls, Erin and Zachary Poettker, Mark Ripperda and Shannon (Sam) Furfaro; five great-grandchildren, Kendra, Dylan, and Cade Ripperda, and Sutton and Mason Furfaro; and he was anticipating the arrival of his great-grandchild Uhls.

Memorials may be made to St. Dominic Catholic Church or Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be received at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to www.mossfuneralhome.com

Visitation: Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, and 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Father Patrick Peter officiating. Interment with full military honors by the Scott Air Force Honorary Drill Team will follow at St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese, Ill.

MOSS FUNERAL HOME, Breese, Ill.