James "Jim" Gedman
James “Jim” Gedman, 91 of Springfield, died at 4:43 pm, Sunday, March 17, 2013 at St. John’s Hospice, surrounded by his family. He was born December 31, 1921 in Coalton, OK to Joseph C. and Helen Beneky Gedman. He married Loretta Gietl in May of 1950 and she preceded him in death. He later married Geraldine Watkins in January 1968 and she survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Betty (John) Gedman of Weston, WV; one son, Joe (Ligia) Gedman of Belleville; three step-daughters, Connie (John) Peyton of Warsaw, IN, Linda (Ronnie) Phillips of Springfield and Pam (Jerry) Harlow of Springfield; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and two grand-dogs.
One daughter, Helen (Bernie) Coleman preceded him in death in 1980.
He was a US Army Air Corp veteran serving in England during WWII. He was a crew chief-airplane engine mechanic on B17 & B24 Bombers with the 327th Army Air Force Bombing Unit. Jim (aka “Moon”) retired from Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1985 after 38 years of service. He was a member of St. Aloysius Church. He was an avid amateur meteorologist and was known as the “weather man”. He liked to walk in Lincoln Park.
Visitation: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at Staab Funeral Home.
Funeral Service: 12 pm, Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at Staab Funeral Home Monsignor Carl Kemme officiating.
Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery where Military Honors will be conducted.
Memorial contributions may be made to Macular Degeneration Research or to St. John’s Hospice.
Judy Gietl Conger posted on 3/21/13
Joe and Betty, I was sorry to hear about your dad's passing. It has been years since I have seen any of you, but would hear from other family members about your lives and whereabouts. Joe, it was great to see you at Aunt Bettie's funeral. I wish I could have stayed for Uncle Jim's funeral but had to get back to the Quad Cities. My sister told me how fun it was to talk to you both and meet Helen's children. Now that our connections with each other are no longer around, we need to make an effort to have family reunions every few years. My sympathy and condolences... Judy Gietl Conger