Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
Funeral services for Judith Ann “Judy” Miller were held Nov. 13, 2024, at Elia, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto with Rev. Jon Sims officiating. Burial was at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
William D. “Bill” Minor 1947-2024 William “Bill” Minor, 77 of Fruitland, Mo., an IGRC retired pastor, died Oct. 4, 2024, at his home.
He was born Jan. 6, 1947, in Eldorado, a son of the Rev. Herman Edward and Arta Mae (Wiedemann) Minor. He married Willene Gurley Oct. 27, 1996. Rev. Minor was a probationary member in 1972 and was ordained an elder in 1974. He surrendered his credentials in 1987; returned to ministry as a full- time local pastor in 1995 and was reinstated as a full member in 1998. During his ministry, he served the following pastorates: Vergennes: Wesley-Oraville; Car- bondale: First (Assoc); New Athens-Freeburg; Nashville: Grace; camp manager, Little Grassy Camp; Lawrenceville: Zion-Billett; Grayville-Fortney; and Anna, from where he retired in 2012. At the time of his death, Bill had pastored Fruitland: Wesley UMC since retiring. Survivors include his wife, Willene of Fruitland, Mo.; sons, William Darrell, Jr. “W.D.” (Shannon) Minor of Liberty Hill, Texas and James Edward (Melissa) Minor of Pflugerville, Texas; step-daughters, Angela Moon and Shannon (Brian) Vincent, all of Murphysboro, IL; grandchildren, Abigail and Olivia Minor; step-grandchildren, Chelsi Graff, Erin Funk, Jenae Thomason and Rebekah Moon; step-great grandchildren, Jasper, Ty, Haley, Karson and Parker; brother, Joseph Minor of Evansville, Ind.; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Jon Clay and a sister-in-law, Paula Minor. A family-hosted memorial service was held Oct. 14, 2024 at Fruitland Wesley UMC with Rev. Jim Dace officiating. Graveside inurnment was Oct. 15, 2024, at Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale.
Gordon L. Monahan 1937-2024 Gordon L. Monahan, 87, the spouse of the Rev. Nancy Bess Mona- han, died Oct. 20, 2024 in Champaign. He was born Sept. 11, 1937 in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Arthur Philip and Annette (Potter) Monahan. He married Mary Arline Hughey Sept. 28, 1962. She died May 13, 1993. He then married Nancy Bess Waters Griffy Aug. 26, 1995. She survives.
He graduated from Mason City High School in 1955 with the ambition of being a phar- macist. He attended the University of Iowa for one semester and then joined the Navy to complete his mandatory military service. He was an Aircraft Electrician aboard the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard after training at various bases all over the country. His main tour was to Bombay and Japan. He was proud to be a part of President Eisenhower’s first People to People initiatives. After he returned home, he attended an aviation school in Minneapolis and became a “ramp tramp” at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. He returned to the
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