Walter J. Petry

Walter J. Petry, 81, of Bloomington died at 2:32 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 at his home after a brief illness.

His funeral will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Monsignor Douglas Hennessy officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bloomington with military rites accorded by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Walter was born on Jan. 13, 1931 in Bloomington, the son of Jakob and Gladys Nichols Petry. He married Winnifred Wharton on June 21, 1952 in Springfield. She survives.

He is also survived by a son, John Petry, San Francisco, Calif., a daughter, Jeanette (Don) Mindar, Liberty Township, Ohio, five grandchildren, Robert, Victoria, Melissa, Dustin and Conner; and four great-grandchildren, Xavier, Alex, Lexy and Katie; and nieces and nephews, Susan, Barb, Yona, David and Stephen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, John, two sisters, Katherine and Jody and a son, Joseph.

Walt graduated from Trinity High School and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. He was very proud of his Naval Service. He was a member of the VFW Post #454, Bloomington, Louis E. Davis American Legion Post #56, Bloomington and the Bloomington Elks.

Walt was a plumber by trade and was a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local #99, Bloomington. He later served as business agent for Local #99. Walt served as a deputy coroner, a deputy sheriff and as licensing board examiner.

He was also a city councilman and President of both the Livingston and McLean County Building & Trades. Walt worked closely with Governor Thompson and others to bring Mitsubishi to Bloomington-Normal, including trips to Korea and Japan.

He loved boating, traveling in the motor coach, water skiing, hunting, fishing, golf, the Chicago Bears and spending winters in Florida with his wife.

Walt’s family would like to thank the Visiting Angels Organization as well as the nurses and staff at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and OSF Hospice.

- -