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BORN
1937
DIED
2024
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Russell Chambers Obituary
Russell Lee Chambers, 86, of Ipava, Illinois, passed away at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, Illinois.
He was born on May 14, 1937, in Bernadotte, Illinois, the son of Howard and Alice (Chenoweth) Chambers. Lee married Merry Koelling on March 26, 1960, in Smithfield, Illinois. He was later with significant other, June Brooks. June preceded Lee in death on May 2, 2014.
Also preceding him in death is his daughter, Vicki Chambers; son, Trent Chambers; two grandsons, Joey Cheatham and Brandon Shaw; two brothers, Frank Chambers and Richy Chambers; and two sisters, Connie Fields and Geraldine "Sis" Myers.
Survivors include his two daughters, Tonya Hilliard of Bushnell, Illinois, and Tammy (and Cole) Younger of Grover Beach, California; one son, Troy (and Laura) Chambers of Burlington; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Larry (and Elaine) Chambers of Bernadotte, Illinois; three sisters, Dorla Helle of Cuba, Illinois, Judy (and Rollin Rumler) Rench of Canton, Illinois, and Lynn (and Roy) Spangler of Bernadotte, and several nieces and nephews.
Lee was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1956 to 1959. He first worked for Penn Central Railroad before working for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad where he retired from in 1999.
He was a member and former commander of the Ipava American Legion Post 17, a fifty-year member of the Ipava Masonic Lodge and a member of the Ipava Christian Church.
Lee enjoyed mowing grass, tinkering with things in the garage and being a part of things at the Legion. He was a proud Marine and loved to brag about the Marine Corps.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, Illinois. Pastor Brant Reed will be officiating. Military Rites will be provided by the Ipava American Legion Post 17. Masonic Rites will be held by the Ipava Masonic Lodge.
A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Interment will be in the Ipava Cemetery. A meal will be held at the Ipava American Legion following interment. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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