Ancil Blodgett, Jr.

1924 - 2007

Havana – Ancil Junior Blodgett, 82, of 503 E Franklin St, Havana, Illinois died at Mason District Hospital in Havana on Wednesday evening, October 3, 2007. 

He was born in rural Fulton County near Enion on December 15, 1924 to Ancil and Margaret (Leonard) Blodgett. He married Wanda Lascelles on November 25, 1953 in the living room of her brother Virgil’s parsonage in Pinkneyville, IL. She survives.

Other survivors include his son, K. Douglas (Gayle) of Cuba, IL; three grandchildren, Carolyn of Cuba, IL, Caleb of Darien, CT, and Case of Cuba, IL. He is also survived by two brothers, Virgil (Mildred) of Ipava, IL; Raymond of North Pole, AK; three sisters, Lucille Betson of Canton, IL; Mary Schmidt of Havana, IL; Margaret Bassette of Pekin, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Marie, Edith, Ethelene, and Lawrence.

He attended schools in rural Fulton County and enlisted in the United States Army in January of 1949. He served two tours of duty overseas in Japan and was honorably discharged from the service in December 1952. 

He returned to Illinois and worked for various employers including John Deere, Phillips 66, LaCrosse Lumber, and Havana Pepsi Bottling. He worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company for almost thirty years, last working in Building KK in East Peoria, IL. 

He was a member of the Havana Rural Fire Department for 42 years where he enjoyed training new volunteers.  

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Havana and enjoyed the weekly meetings with other Christian men at the Southern Baptist Church as well. His hobbies included camping, fishing, hunting and wood working projects. After his retirement from Caterpillar he combined his love of camping with his desire to help others. He and Wanda became actively involved in Campers on Mission, a non-denominational group of Christian workers that travels throughout the Midwest working on churches, campgrounds, and parsonages. He was also a team leader on mission trips with Shields’ Chapel United Methodist Church where he enjoyed helping young people learn carpentry skills. 

His family was always the most important thing in his life and he spent countless hours helping to care for his grandchildren. As his grandchildren grew up he became a regular at their ball games, speech contests, plays, and programs. Always someone who could be counted on to help others, he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. 

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Hurley Funeral Home in Havana, IL. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Havana with burial to follow at Laurel Hills Cemetery. 

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 101 S. Charlotte, Havana, IL 62644