Daniel L. Hargis (82) of Effingham

Daniel L. Hargis, 82, of Effingham, IL, died at 3:55 a.m. on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham. Burial will follow services at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024 prior to the service at the church. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church or Catholic Charities. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Daniel Lee Hargis was born on September 5, 1941 in Sparta, IL, son of William Lester and Marjorie Ellen (Neisler) Hargis. He graduated from Gorham High School in 1959. In 1964, he married Claudia Gale; together they had three children and later divorced. He married Janet Hinkley-Poland in 1992; together they shared over 30 wonderful years of marriage. Dan started working in southern Illinois at Farm Service, then Valley Steel Corporation. He spent 6 years in the Illinois Army National Guard. He started working for World Color Press in Sparta, IL in 1964, transferring to Effingham in 1970; after 39 years of service with the company, he retired in 2003. Dan was a Cub Scout Master and enjoyed square dancing. In retirement, he learned to play the dulcimer, banjo, and mandolin. He and Janet played the dulcimer in a band called “Almost” at church and various events. He enjoyed playing music in Jim Bolin's Smokehouse Gang with a great bunch of guys; having taken banjo lessons from a great teacher, Graton Tolliver. Dan also loved working with his hands, whether it be in his garden making his yard look beautiful or in the kitchen baking his famous homemade cinnamon rolls. Dan volunteered at Catholic Charities, The Cross, and Meals on Wheels. He was an active member of Centenary United Methodist Church and was one of the Centenary Servants who helped deliver communion to people in Lakeland Nursing Home.

Survivors include his wife, Janet Hargis of Effingham; sons, Michael Lee Hargis of Englewood, CO and Don Phillip (Marta) Hargis of Littleton, CO; daughters, Gina Hargis and Kelsey Clark, both of Effingham; brother, Gerald Hargis of China Grove, NC; brother-in-law, Bill (Cheryl) Hinkley of Stewardson; five grandsons, Pablo and David Hargis, Brandon and Justin Hargis, and Addison Clark; nieces and nephews, Carolyn Hargis, David Hargis, Michele Hinkley, Jason Burner and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Margaret Hargis.