George Howard

George Howard

Age 79 of Wilmington, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at home surrounded by family.

Born September 29, 1942 in Wilmington, Illinois, George C.  was the son of George Golden and Avia Ellen (nee Mansfield) Howard.  He was raised in Wilmington and attended Wilmington schools.  On March 20, 1961, George married Donna Jean Martin in Joliet, Illinois.

He worked briefly as a part-time officer with the Braceville Police Department, was a union steward at Diamond International paper mill in Wilmington, and retired from the Exxon Mobil Joliet refinery in 2002, after over 20 years of service as a machinist and troubleshooter.

George was an avid outdoorsman with skills including trapping, hunting, fishing and gardening.  He was at one time a Boy Scout leader and was involved in the Mountain Man reenactments in the early Catfish Days celebrations.  George was a stock car racer and pit crew member, and was a regular bowling league member at Wilmington Lanes.  George belonged to the South Wilmington Sportsman Club, was a lifetime NRA member, and was a member of the Illinois State Rifle Association.  In addition, he was a past member of the Wilmington Moose Lodge.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Donna Howard of Wilmington; four children: George (Karen) Howard of Attica, Indiana, Charles (Judy) Howard of Wilmington, Illinois, Daniel (Dawn) Howard of Lockport, Illinois and Martin (Kelly) Howard of Diamond, Illinois; four grandchildren: Kristin (Conor) Casey of Aurora, Illinois, Ashley (Austin) Kelly of Woodridge, Illinois, Joshua Howard of Wilmington, Illinois and George J. Howard of Naperville, Illinois;  one great-grandchild: Fletcher Casey of Aurora, Illinois; three sisters: Ethel Neese and Nancy Calhoun both of Wilmington, Illinois and Mary Schmidberger of Dwight, Illinois; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

George was preceded in death by his parents: George and Avia Howard; and siblings: Ann Surtasky, Wesley Howard, Donald Howard, Martha Scholey and Larry Howard.

The family will receive friends for a graveside service on Monday, January 10, 2022 at Oakwood Cemetery, Essex Road in Braidwood, Illinois at 11:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Kuzma Care Cottage, 645 South Main St, Wilmington, Illinois 60481.

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guest book, upload photographs and share George’s memorial page by logging onto:  www. BaskervilleFuneral.com/obituary/George-Howard.

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington (815) 476-2181.