Harry E. Sanders

Harry Eugene Sanders, 93, of Pleasant Plains, Ill., formerly of Hannibal and Payson, Ill., died Thurs. Jan. 26, 2012, at Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Petersburg, Ill. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Mon., Jan. 30, 2012, at Smith Funeral Home & Chapel, Pastor Ed Ingram officiating. Burial will be in Grand View Burial Park. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. Monday until time of services at Smith Funeral Home & Chapel. He married Dorothy Hubbard, November 9, 1941, and they celebrated their 70th anniversary this past year. He is survived by his wife and their three children: John Sanders and wife Sandra of Columbia, Mo., Nancy Tippin and husband Morris of Medora, Ind. and Beth Kaufmann and husband Robert of Pleasant Plains, Ill.; 6 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Harry was born Nov. 24, 1918, in rural Hannibal. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lula and John Sanders, his siblings, Ruth (Vernon) Palmer, M. Chester (Mary) Sanders, O. Richard (Dorothy) Sanders, Betty (Orval) Winn and one grand-daughter. He was a master welder who initially worked at Letourneau in Peoria, Ill., and in Texas and then at Michelmann Steel in Quincy for 32 years as shop superintendent. Harry served in the U.S. Navy during WWII on the USS Shangri La. He was a graduate of Tilden High School, class of 1938. Throughout his life, Harry enjoyed many activities, especially those that involved family and friends. He and Dorothy loved to be outside whether working in the yard, the garden, or camping and fishing with family and friends, many of which occurred on the Salt River. Known for his woodworking and building skills, Harry built and remodeled several homes for his family and loved to help others with their projects including helping build an addition to Akers Chapel Church in Plainville, Ill., where he served as elder. He and Dorothy were members there for many years. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren were very important to Harry and he loved watching them participate in any activity, especially sports, swimming in the pool and just playing around. Memorials may be made to the Oakwood Christian Church in care of Smith Funeral Home & Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com .