Eugene H.

Eugene H. "Whitey" Westendorf, 93, of Effingham, passed away Saturday evening June 25, 2022, at home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 1, 2022, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2022, at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Anthony Schools or the Lincoln Land Honor Flight. Online condolences may be shared at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.
Eugene was born December 29, 1928, in Bishop Creek, IL, the son of Leo and Clara (Niemerg) Westendorf. He married Lucille Haarmann on June 18, 1960. They are the proud parents of ten children.
Eugene was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church and the Knights of Columbus Council #665. Eugene was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and served his country during the Korean War from 1950-1952. He was an active member in his local VFW Post #1769 as Past Commander/Quartermaster, as well as with the American Legion #120. He also served at many military funerals as a member of the Honor Guard. In 2014 Eugene was able to participate in the honor flight to Washington, DC.
He worked for Effingham Equity for 38 years. He enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, mushroom hunting, gardening, hickory nut cracking, playing cards, watching the Cardinals, and spending time with his family. He celebrated his German heritage and loved his country.
Eugene is survived by his wife, Lucille; children, Dale (Ellen), Tom (Rosalie), Terry (Robin), Christy (Dave) Bales, Lori (Steve) Bushue, Linda (Jay) Tharp, Becky (Kevin) Wenthe, Scott (Christa), Leon (Jennifer), Ted (Jessica); sister, Adeline Miller; brother, George (Jeanette) Westendorf; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Haarmann, Charlene Westendorf, Verena Kemme; 28 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roger and Ralph; sisters, Lorraine Jones and Olivia Will; parents-in-law, Aloysius and Frances Haarmann; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Raymond Jones, Pete Will, Roscoe Miller, Alberta Westendorf, Louis and Florence Goldstein, Eugene and Pauline Probst, Albert Haarmann, Aloysius Haarmann, Laura Haarmann, and Clarence Kemme.