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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
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