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BORN
1936
DIED
2026
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Wayne McDaniel Obituary
Sidney - Wayne E. McDaniel, 90, of Sidney passed away Saturday (Feb. 14, 2026) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, with the Rev. Jeff Stahl officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Sidell. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Wayne was born Jan. 4, 1936, in Jamaica, Ill., the son of Forrest and Delia (Taylor) McDaniel, the seventh of 10 children. Wayne graduated from Sidell High School in 1954. He married Gail Arwine on May 29, 1959, and she preceded him in death in 1991. He later married Joan Erb Lewis on Sept. 6, 1992, and she survives.
Also surviving are a son, Terry (Michelle) McDaniel of Danville; stepdaughters, Brenda Feller of Fort Myers, Fla., and Connie (Rick) Knight of Sidney; grandsons, Matthew (Jessica) McDaniel and Zachary (Erika) McDaniel; stepgrandchildren Jonathan (Lisa) Feller, Sarah (Paul) Gibson, Ben Feller, Hillary (Jeff) Gayler and Tyler (Kristin) Knight; great-grandchildren, Layla McDaniel, Maelee Remington, Melody McDaniel and Micah Remington-McDaniel; stepgreat-grandchildren, Emma Gibson, Lilly Gibson, MaKenzie Gayler, MaKayla Gayler, Gage Gayler and Scarlett Knight; stepgreat-great-grandchildren, Adley and Cooper Walsh; a brother, Keith (Jane) McDaniel of Sidell; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Ailene Hillary, Kenneth McDaniel, Esther Lahne, Betty Jackowski, Donald McDaniel, Ruth Callahan, Shirley McCown and Larry McDaniel; a stepson-in-law, Doug Feller; and stepgrandson Rocky Knight.
Wayne was the longtime franchise owner of Standard/Amoco Oil in Sidell, where he worked for 32 years before retiring in 1998. He spent most of his life in and around Sidell before moving to Sidney in 1992, where he lived for the past 34 years.
He was known for his love of playing cards and visiting with friends and neighbors. Always ready to lend a helping hand, he could fix nearly anything and was admired for his remarkable memory - remembering not just names and events, but the exact years as well.
He enjoyed camping and traveling across the country. In retirement, Wayne and Joan enjoyed winters at their second homes in Surprise, Ariz., and later in Arcadia, Fla.
Most importantly, he loved his family deeply and treasured the time he spent with each of them.
Memories and Condolences
for Wayne McDaniel
3 Entries
Sherri Arwine Gough
February 18, 2026
I am so very sorry to hear this news. As a family member Wayne, who was married to my sister Gail before she passed, was always wonderful. He loved life and was always so good to each of us, both the young kids and the older ones. I have many treasured memories of the time spent at Mom and Daddy's. RIP Wayne, you will be missed by many.
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LAURA BRINKLEY
February 16, 2026
I am so sorry to learn of your loss. he was delightful and we enjoyed our evenings together with Sue Hinkle and his wife Joann. Please know we wish we could attend funeral services. But we have a medical appointment that day.
Lesley Chilcote
February 16, 2026
Without a doubt Wayne was one of the kindest men I´ve ever known. Always smiling and living life
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