Garland Allen Kingery (94) of Chatham

Garland Allen Kingery, 94, of Chatham, passed away peacefully at his home, Tuesday, August 8, 2017, with his family by his side.

He was born June 3, 1923 in Sigel, IL. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mabel Kingery Garbe, grandparents Alfred and Melinda Kingery (who raised him), sisters, Evelyn Mattis, Eleanor Ekstrand, and Marcella Davis; infant brother, Curtis Garbe. He married Mary Ellen Norville on November 29, 1947. Garland worked for Allis Chalmers after the war, and for the State of Illinois, as one of the first computer science/data processors and on the Pardon and Parole Board; after retirement, he worked as a realtor for 12 years. Garland coached Khoury League baseball for many years. Garland wrote a book entitled “Do You Want it Bad Enough”, concerning life struggles in the depression era, WWII, and the post war period. He leaves a legacy of helping others in the community, a practice learned throughout the years of struggles that he and others of the “Greatest Generation” experienced. Mr. Kingery is a veteran of the US Navy, during WWII serving as plane captain on the USS Kitkun Bay; he is a past commander (1956-1961) of the Chatham American Legion Post #759 and was one of the original organizers of the Annual Chatham Homecoming. Garland was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Chatham, where he was a lector.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 69 years, Mary Ellen; son, Ken Kingery (Rebecca Moore) of Chatham; daughter, Kaye Corrigan (Jim Caudill) of Aurora; grandchildren, Lisa Corrigan of Naperville, David Corrigan (fiancée) Courtney Scott of Montgomery; great granddaughters, Mackenzie and Zoey Corrigan; brother, Gale (Mary Lou) Garbe of Glen Carbon.

His family will greet friends from 4pm-7pm, Thursday, August 10, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 700 East Spruce Street, Chatham and from 9am until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10am, Friday, August 11 at St. Joseph the Worker Church, with Fr. John Nolan officiating. Burial will follow at Chatham Memorial Cemetery where the Interveterans’ Burial Detail of Sangamon County will conduct military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Post #759, PO Box 402, Chatham, IL, 62629.