Eugene Hantle

Visitation: 5:00 PM on June 26, 2011 Funeral: 9:30 AM on June 27, 2011 Eugene (Gene) E. Hantle, 89, of Oro Valley, Arizona and Ironwood, Michigan, formerly of Decatur, Illinois, passed on peacefully in his sleep at his residence in Arizona on Monday, June 20, 2011. Visitation will be at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, 2827 N. Oakland, Decatur, IL. from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, June 26, 2011, with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. Funeral Mass is at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2450 S. Franklin Street Rd., Decatur, IL. at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 27, 2011. Burial will be at Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Decatur, IL, with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to the Veterans Association. Gene was born March 24, 1922, son of Edward C. Hantle and Gladys M. Grubb. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Ross in May of 1947 in Decatur, Illinois. Surviving are six children (Jill Guzzardo and husband George of Oro Valley, AZ, Kevin Hantle and wife Kathy of Danvers, IL, Jeff Hantle and wife Debbie of Nixa, MO, Joe Hantle and wife Eva of LaPlace, IL, Bryan Hantle of Lafayette, LA, and Regina Walk and husband Jeff of Toulon, IL), his brother, (Bernie), two sisters (Betty Garver, Theresa Miller), 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and several grand-dogs. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters (Marie and Sharon) and son, Edward. Gene proudly served as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corp's 1st Core Medium Tank Battalion on the Islands of Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Tinian, during WWII from 8/13/1942-10/12-1945. He was a Member of Knights of Columbus, Decatur, IL, a Member of Holy Family Catholic Church, and Co-Owner of Maco Engraving Co., Decatur, IL. Gene was an avid outdoorsman all his life. He loved sitting on his front porch in the Northwoods, howling at the wolves, and watching his beloved dog Katie chase off the bears. He was a Great Spirit upon this Earth, and it was an honor for all who knew him, and loved him. "
}