GORHAM – Early Tuesday morning, June 11th, God fulfilled His baptismal promise to Willard, at the age of 90 years 2 months by calling him out of this earthly life into His heavenly presence.

Willard was born on April 11, 1934, in Gorham, IL., son of Otto & Irma (Schilling) Arbeiter. Willard was baptized & confirmed into the Christian faith at Christ Lutheran Church, Jacob, IL. On August 2, 1952, he married Patricia Qualls at Christ Lutheran Church, Jacob, IL. and she preceded him in death on April 29, 1983. February 23, 1984, Willard married Ruth Ann Kroeger Mueller at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Willard has been an active member of Christ Lutheran Church, Jacob, IL. his whole life. He was a member of the Lutheran Laymen's League. He was also a member of the Mississippi Valley School District School Board for 11 years and served as President for 8 years. He was also a member of the Jackson County Farm Bureau. The rest of his time he spent farming in the Jackson County, IL. area. He farmed for 67 years - 1952 thru 2019, and enjoyed every minute of it.

Survivors include: his wife Ruth Ann; four sons - Robert (Doris) Arbeiter of DeSoto, IL., Ronald (Jill) Arbeiter of Chester, IL., Jeffery Arbeiter of Murphysboro, IL., Mark (Kim) Arbeiter of Waterloo, IL.; one daughter - Melissa (Mark) Underwood of Springfield, IL.; two step-sons - Bryan (Cheryl) Mueller of Fenton, MO., Glen Mueller of Murphysboro, IL. Thirteen grandchildren - Robert J. (Lisa) Arbeiter, Timothy (Pam) Arbeiter, Benjamin (Lori) Arbeiter, Heidi (Jon) Caron, Jacob (Tina) Arbeiter, Gretchen (Steve) Weber, Emily (Dane) Allen, Caleb (Elizabeth) Arbeiter, Samantha (Steve) Hernandez, Max Moeckel-Arbeiter, Zachary (Lindsay) Underwood, Lauren (Casey) Mohr, Nicholas (Olivia) Underwood and eighteen (plus two on the way) great-grandchildren and two great-great grandsons, three step-grandchildren and five step-great grandchildren.

Willard is also survived by: two brothers - Arlin (Bonnie) Arbeiter of Winter Haven, FL., James (Laura) Arbeiter of Marine, IL; one sister - Marietta (Milton) Gerler of Gorham, IL.; two sisters-in-law - Lois Qualls of Goreville, IL., Marge Qualls of Sparta, IL.; one brother-in-law James Kroeger of Hoyleton, IL.; one sister-in-law Lois (Elbert) Brink of Carlyle, IL.

Willard was preceded in death by parents Otto & Irma Arbeiter, Robert & Dora Qualls, Gilbert & Bertha Kroeger, wife Patricia Arbeiter, granddaughter Hannah Arbeiter, great-granddaughter baby Weber, and in-laws: Gerald Qualls, James Qualls, Kathy Kroeger.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 15th at Wilson Funeral Home, Ava, IL. and on Sunday, June 16, 2024, from 12:30 pm until time of service at 2pm, at Christ Lutheran Church, Jacob, IL, with the Rev. Gunner Campbell officiating. Interment will be at Glenn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: LCMS Missions, Mission Central, Mapleton, Iowa or Southern Illinois District Lutheran Women's Missionary League Seminary & Teacher Scholarships (SID LWML Scholarships).