Emrel Gene "Port" DeFraties, Sr.

Emrel Gene “Port” DeFraties, Sr., 84, of Springfield, died July 19, 2011, at Memorial Medical Center. He was born April 10, 1927, in Springfield to E.R. “Port” and Violet B. Adkins DeFraties. He married Theresa Joyce Rechner in 1949 and she preceded him in death in 1992. He married Shirley J. Sergeant on June 2, 1995, and she survives.
Also surviving are one daughter Terry (Ken) Niemczyk of Springfield; two sons, Gene “Jinx” (Shirley) DeFraties of Taylorville and Dave (Dawn) DeFraties of Springfield; one daughter-in-law, Donna DeFraties of Springfield; three step-children, Vicki (Randy) Slye of Wiggins, CO, Terri Sergeant of Denver, CO and Nina Walker of Auburn; one step son-in-law, Zenon Kurchard of Lakewood, CO; twenty-one grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Dan and stepdaughter, Toni Kurchard.
“Port” was a tool and die maker at Sangamo Electric and Dickey John. He served in the U.S. Navy in WWII and Korea, was a member of VFW Post 10302, a former member of the Elks and a Mason. He enjoyed golfing and automobile racing.
Memorial Gathering: 10-11:30 am, Friday, July 22, 2011, at Staab Funeral Home.
Graveside Service: 12:00 noon, Friday, July 22, 2011, at Camp Butler National Cemetery where Sangamon County Interveterans Burial Detail will conduct military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Medical Center Foundation – 6CICU or VFW Post 10302