Jerry Harnish

MARION -- Jerry Lee Harnish Sr., 81, formerly of Decatur, departed this life at 10:58 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in Herrin Hospital.

Jerry was born April 5, 1931, in Decatur to Leslie Carl and Henriette (Schalla) Harnish.

He married Corene Masters Dec. 21, 1964, in St. Louis. She survives of Marion.

Jerry was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He served his country bravely as a military police officer and was honorably discharged in 1955. Once stateside, he worked 39 years for Wabash and Norfolk southern railroads and retired in 1987 as chief electrical inspector.

Jerry attended Freedom Freewill Baptist Church and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was deliberate in his actions and had an ornery streak. He was a loyal Chicago Cubs fan, and his time was spent boating and fishing on Lake of Egypt on his Pontoon boat and watching CNN and his purple Martins. Jerry was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his wife, Corene Harnish of Marion; sons, Jimmy Darrell Schroeder and wife, Jean, of Collinsville, and Jerry Lee Harnish Jr. and wife, Kara, of Decatur; daughter, Susan Short and husband, Norm, of Marion; grandchildren, Jimmy Darrell Schroeder Jr., Jamie Schroeder Haley, Amber Harnish, Kori Huss-Harnish, Kodi Harnish, Alissa Harnish and Sydney Short; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Bill Harnish and wife, Lorie, of Decatur; sisters, Alice Pierce and husband, Mayes, of Louisville, Ky., Joan Lange of Edmund, Okla., and Bev Myrvold and husband, Steve, of Decatur; and beloved nephews, Ken and Steve Worley of Sikeston, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Carol Dart.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, in Freedom Freewill Baptist Church south of Marion with the Rev. Gordon Smith officiating. Burial will be in Freedom Cemetery, south of Marion. Military rites will be performed at graveside by Marion VFW and American Legion Posts and Illinois National Guard. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion.

Memorial donations are suggested to Freedom Freewill Baptist Church and will be accepted at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home, 800 N. Market St., Marion, IL 62959.

For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com.