Arthur Dufelmeier

Arthur J. Dufelmeier, 86, of Havana, passed away at 8:20 a.m. on Thursday, February 04, 2010 at Mason District Hospital in Havana. He was born July 21, 1923 in Beardstown, IL to Fritz and Lena (Schmies) Dufelmeier. He married Janice C. Evans on March 1, 1947 in Decatur. She preceded him in death on August 2, 2008. Mr. Dufelmeier is survived by four daughters, Carolyn Dufelmeier of San Antonio, TX, Diane (Ron) Hills of Havana, Mary Jo (Bob) Maloney of Rock Island, IL, Debra (Mike) Webber of Havana and one son, James (Lil) Dufelmeier of West Dundee, IL, as well as eight grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, one great-grandson and six step-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brother, Henry Dufelmeier of Beardstown and sister, Louise Savoie of Jacksonville. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, three brothers and son Mark. Mr. Dufelmeier graduated from Beardstown High School and attended the University of Illinois on a Basketball scholarship. He left the U of I in 1943 to serve his country during WWII. He was a POW for 11 months during 1944-45 and was liberated on May 2, 1945. He returned to the U of I five months later and was elected captain of their football team that won the Big 10 and beat UCLA in the 1947 Rose Bowl. He served as the head football coach at Western Illinois University for nine years, followed by a seventeen year stint as the Havana High School head coach. Along with coaching at these schools, he was a lifelong educator. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Macomb, American Legion as well as the Havana VFW Post #6408. A memorial service will be held at the 1st United Methodist Church in Havana at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 8, 2010. Visitation will be held at the Hurley Funeral Home in Havana on Sunday, February 7, 2010 from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. Rev. Sidney Davis will officiate. Cremation rites have been accorded and burial of cremains will be held at a later date at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Havana. Memorial contributions may be made to the 1st United Methodist Church, Mason District Hospital, VFW Post #6408 or Havana Booster Club. Online memorial messages may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com. Hurley Funeral Home in Havana is in charge of arrangements.

Arthur Dufelmeier

February 4, 2010

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