Jack William Woolard

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Jack William Woolard, 79, was born on May 1, 1929, and passed away Nov. 27, 2008. He was raised in Eldorado by his parents, Charlie and Lena (McCormick) Woolard; he married Oma Lynn Peek on Nov. 22, 1947. He then moved to Chicago and had four daughters, Gloria Lynn (Larry) Basista, Katherine Mary (Jerry) Wozniak, DeeAnn (Leo) Marchiorello and Phyllis Jean (Larry) McEndree.

He is survived by 10 grandchildren, Tommy, Tammy, George, Kelly, Jack, Anthony, Timothy, Patty, Jack, Rochelle; and also 11 great-grandchildren, Sabrina, Sarah, Cody, Collin, Kira, Dimitri, Cheryl Jean, Makenzie, Jackie Lynn, Jordan and Scottie.

He moved to Chicago and built a house in Oakbrook in 1955, moved to Villa Park, where he lived 27 years. He worked at Polk Bros. in Chicago as a truck driver for 31 years. He lived in Northern Illinois until retiring to Christopher and then to Benton. He loved to tinker in the garage fixing bicycles, lawn mowers, anything that needed fixed, and he loved his garage sales and auctions. He was very much a big teddy bear to all his girls and grandchildren, he loved his camping vacations with his family; later to find the Gateway R.V. Park in Raymondsville, Texas, where he and his wife spent about 10 winters and met many new friends.

Jack was a Mason since 1971, and he was baptized in the Baptist faith around the age of 40.

He was preceded in death by his parents Charlie and Lena; wife, Oma; daughter, Katherine; grandson, Scotty; and two brothers, Bob of Chicago and Charles of Joliet.

In lieu of flowers donations to the First Baptist Church of Benton 201 S. Main St. Benton, Ill. 62812 and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Funeral services for Mr. Woolard will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday Dec. 3, 2008, at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Pastor Charles Klassen officiating. Burial will be in the Horse Prairie cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday Dec. 2, 2008, at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher.

There will be a Masonic service at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday provided by the Benton Masonic Lodge.

For more information go to the Internet site www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.