Harry B. Brasel (84) of Glen Carbon, formerly of Effingham

Harry B. Brasel, 84, of Glen Carbon, formerly of Effingham, IL, passed away at 1:57 p.m. Monday, October 9, 2017, at Eden Village Care Center in Glen Carbon.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 13 at Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Effingham, with military rites. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday prior to the service at the church. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church or the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

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Harry was born on July 18, 1933 in Alma Township, IL, to Burdette and Faye (McClain) Brasel. His family moved to the Kinmundy area around 1945, and Harry graduated from Kinmundy Community High School in 1950. After graduation, Harry went to work for the Illinois Central Railroad as a telegrapher. He then served in the U.S. Navy from 1953-1957, where he achieved the rank of CT2 and served for two years in Japan during the Korean War. He was awarded the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Korean Service Medal. He married Alice Frimel on July 8, 1956. Upon discharge from the Navy, he returned to work with the Illinois Central Railroad. He then left the railroad to work for the Effingham Postal Service, and became the Stewardson Postmaster in 1987. He retired from the post office in 1990. He sold real estate for Harrison Realtors and First Realty part-time during his retirement.

Harry was active for many years in the Ainad Shrine of Southern Illinois and was a Master Mason with the Watson Masonic Lodge. He was past president and Paul Harris Fellow of the Effingham Rotary and past president of the Effingham High School Quarterback Club. In addition, he was a member of the VFW and the Centenary United Methodist Church. In his spare time, he enjoyed collecting antique railroad memorabilia and restored a Ford Model A car and two Ford Mustangs.

Harry is survived by his wife of more than sixty years, Alice Brasel of Glen Carbon, formerly of Effingham; a son, Jeffry (Elise) Brasel of Edwardsville; son-in-law, Jim DeWilde of Effingham; six grandchildren, Caitlin (Karl Beck) DeWilde of St. Louis, MO, Tony (Tera) Brasel of Collinsville, Jordan DeWilde of Rockford, A.J. (Jeanne) Brasel of Carol Stream, Amanda (Zach Bowman) Brasel of St. Louis, Mo, and Zach Brasel of Edwardsville; and three great-grandchildren, Griffin and Marshall Beck and Noah Brasel. He also leaves a brother, Neal (Beverly) Brasel, and two sisters, Donna Roddy and Betty Miller.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Burdette and Faye Brasel; brothers, Dale and Benny Brasel; sister, Ada “Jane” Ditton; and daughter, Marsha Brasel DeWilde.