James Sanner

Visitation will be at the Brintlinger & Earl Funeral Home, 2827 N. Oakland Ave, Decatur, from 5 to 8 P.M., Thursday, January 17, 2008. The Funeral Service will be 1:00 P.M., Friday, January 18 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Decatur, with the Rev. Steve Hill presiding. Burial will be in the Point Pleasant Cemetery, Long Creek. Memorials: Westminster Presbyterian Church, the Salvation Army, or the National Parkinsons Association.James Quintus Sanner was born on the Sanner Farm in Shelby County, Illinois on May 1, 1923, the son of Truman Quintus Sanner and Bernice Ann Jones Sanner. He attended schools in Mt. Zion, Illinois, and the University of Illinois, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky in 1948. He joined the United States Army in 1943 during World War II and served in the infantry in Europe until 1946. He received a Purple Heart for injuries suffered in Germany and spent a few months in the hospital in England before returning to France for the duration.After being discharged, he was married on September 1, 1946, to Audrey Gray Owens of Middlesboro, Kentucky. They met while he was stationed for a few months at the University of Kentucky as a member of the Army Specialized Training Program in 1943. He completed his college degree at the University of Kentucky after the war.After graduation Jim returned to Decatur and was employed by the Gauger and Diehl CPA firm. He became a CPA in 1954 and a partner in Gauger & Diehl in 1958. He was a retired partner of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, which acquired Gauger & Diehl. He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma; the American Institute of CPAs and the Illinois CPA Society where he served on many committees, including service on the Advisory Council of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, working to protect the operations of county grain elevators; a life member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board and an active member for over 30 years; a member of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross; and a long time member of the Noon Sertoma Club. Jim was an active member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon and an elder and on many committees. He was active with the Presbytery and was on the board of the Titus Home in Sullivan. He was an Illinois PTA life member.Surviving are Audrey, his wife of 61 years, their 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 1 great granddaughter. They are James David Sanner and wife Amanda Sheedy of Morris, Illinois, and son Jeffrey David Sanner of Chicago, Illinois; Daniel William Sanner and wife Ellen G. Bickers Sanner of Decatur and their daughters, Ragen Elizabeth Sanner of Champaign, Illinois, and Dr. Quinn Danielle Bensi and husband Michael J. Bensi and daughter Aden Gray Bensi of Indianapolis, Indiana; Margaret Gail Sanner of Decatur, Illinois, her son Joseph Owen Cottrell of Decatur and daughter Audra Allison Cottrell of Woodland Hills, California; John Edward Sanner and wife Diane Toben Sanner and sons James William Sanner and Thomas Owen Sanner of Decatur; sister Jewel Sanner Sims and her husband William Sims of Davis, California; brother Samuel Wesley Sanner and his wife Marian Ohm Sanner of Tulsa, OK; sister-in-law Mildred Sanner of Moweaqua; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Herbert and wife Mary; Truman and wife Juanita; Karl; Lloyd; and sister Dorothea Sanner.Jim loved his family and his work, and enjoyed traveling and working with automobiles. He will be greatly missed by all of us.Condolences may be left to the family at www.brintlingerandearl.com. "
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