IN LOVING MEMORY OF
James Hector
Word
January 16, 1931 – September 27, 2018
Obituary
STEELEVILLE - James Hector Word, 87 of Steeleville left this earthly life on Thursday, September 27th. He was born in Sparta, Illinois on January 16, 1931 to Charles Carlous and Agnes Beveridge Word. James married Lorene Voss on November 16, 1957. They shared 60 years of marriage. James served in the U. S. Marine Corp from 1951-1959. From 1951-1953 he served his country in the Korean War. James received the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with 2 stars and the United Nations Service Medal. James was a lifetime member of the Chester VFW Post 3553 and American Legion Post BBK 480 in Steeleville. Jim was a member of the original Legion firing squad. He served over 40 years as the Post Chaplin. Jim was also a member of the Randolph County Marine Corp League. James and his wife Lorene, received the Steeleville Citizen of the Year award in 2009. James volunteered many hours to the community. He served as a member of the Board for the Village of Steeleville. He delivered meals for the Steeleville Senior Site and served as a greeter/volunteer at Memorial Hospital in Chester. James was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church where he served as Elder as well as many other positions on boards of the church and school. James retired from World Color Press/Spartan Printing after over 40 years. He was a member of local 210B. James loved his family and was known as "Grandpa Taxi". He saw to it that his grandchildren made it to school, practice and events on time. James also loved working outside taking care of lawn and working in the garden. James is survived by his wife, 4 children, Debra (James) Mevert and Kimberly (Bruce) Ruebke of Steeleville, Todd (Carol) Word of Frohna, MO and Laurie (John) Irose of Chester. He is also survived by grandchildren, Timothy (Alaina) Mevert of Marion, IL, Phillip Mevert of Bella Vista, AR, Bethany Mevert of Auxerre, France, Rebecca (Jared) Nobbe of Waterloo, IL, Nathanial Ruebke and Autumn Gleich of Steeleville, Natalie Ruebke of Evansville, IN, Zachary and Cory Word of Frohna, MO and Clayton and Grace Irose of Chester, IL. James is also survived by brother Robert (Patricia)Word of Derby KS and sister; Janet Louveau of Evansville, IL and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. James is preceded in death by his parents, siblings Mary Barkau, Marcella Word, JoAnn Kroener, C Carlous Word Jr. and grandson Jonathon Michael Mevert. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Monday, October 1, 2018, at the St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Steeleville, with Rev. William F. Engfehr, III officiating, and burial will follow with military honors by the Kaskaskia VFW Post 3553 at the Paradise Cemetery, Steeleville. Visitation will be held on Sunday evening at the St. Mark's Lutheran Church where friends may call from 5 to 8 PM, with the American Legion Service to be held at 8 PM, Sunday, then on Monday from 9 to 11 at the church. Memorials may be made to the St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Hospice of Southern Illinois, Southern Illinois Honor Flight, or Saxony Lutheran High School FFA.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Hector Word, please visit our flower store.
James Hector Word's Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors