Harley Brucker
Harley Allen Brucker, 90, of Lake Buckhorn (Reedsburg, Wis.), formally of Cropsey, died Oct. 13 at the Sauk County Health Care Center.
His funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Pastor Paul Thomason will be officiating.
Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington, where military honors will be performed.
Visitation will be held from 3-6:00 p.m., Sunday, also at the funeral home and 9-9:45 a.m., Monday at the funeral home.
Harley was born May 30, 1926, in Cropsey, the son of Howard and Irene (Wenger) Brucker. He served in the Navy during WWII from 1944 through 1946. Upon returning home to Cropsey, he farmed from 1949 until 1991.
Harley married Mary Jane “Janie” Kelm in 1962, and had three children, Krystal, Douglas and Edward. He retired in 1991 and moved with his wife to Lake Buckhorn, WI, where he enjoyed working at Ho-Chunk as a security guard, making beautiful wood projects and relaxing with his dog, Maxwell.
Harley was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Jane Brucker; brother, Arnold Brucker and sister, Bernadine Brown.
He is survived by his children, Krystal (Jeff) Schara of North Freedom,Douglas (Bethany) Brucker of Fairbury, IL,Edward (Leanne) Brucker of Chatsworth; grandchildren, Joshua (Annie) Schara, JordynSchara, Erin (Jake) Terven, Lane (Kayla) Leake, Cassidy Brucker, Rhett Brucker, Austin Brucker and BayliBrucker;
six Great grandchildren
Memorials of remembrance may be made to the Sauk County Health Care Center, 1051 Clark Street Reedsburg, Wis. 53959.
Condolences and tributes may be made to the family at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
Travis Hardesty
Travis Ray Hardesty, 27 of Normal, was granted his wings on Oct. 10.
Travis is survived by his parents, Christopher and Jennifer Hardesty of Stanford; his brother Kyle Kingston of Pittsburgh, Penn.; his sisters Abbie Hardesty of Normal, and Olivia (Phillip) Barnes of Provo, Utah. Travis is greeted in Heaven by his Grandmother Marguerite “Peggy” Nafziger (Billerbeck); his Great-Grandmother Bernice “Dee Dee” VanHook; his Grandfathers Wayne Hardesty and Edwin “Joe” Raydon; and his Uncle Robert Hardesty.
Travis was born in Bloomington on Jan. 15, 1989, at Bromenn Hospital. He graduated from Olympia High School in 2007 and from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2012. He worked at Ameren as a pipeline engineer and was very passionate and proud of the work he did every day.
Travis battled a life-long illness but still had the ability to see the good in life and those around him. He was an avid “tinkerer” who loved to take things apart just to see how they worked. Travis’ primary passion was in off-road motorsports, in which he most recently rebuilt and raced his four-wheeler alongside his father. Travis had many friends who he loved, that will remember his smile and his ability to lift up their spirits at any time.
Travis was devoted to his family and loved them more than anything, including his “doggy nephews” Auggie and Tootie. He will be deeply missed, but always remembered for the way he lived, and persevered through the many trials of his health. Travis was a precious gift to his family and brought much joy to their lives.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Oct. 15 at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomingto. Donations can be made in memory of Travis to the IBS Research Fund at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Online condolences may be made to www.calvertmemorial.com.
