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Forrest E. "Gene" Easley

April 30th, 1939 – April 19th, 2018

Forrest Eugene “Gene” Easley, 78, of Ipava, IL, passed away peacefully surrounded with loved ones by his side at 10:25 am on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield, IL. He was born on April 30, 1939 in Vermont, IL, the son of Forrest and Bonnie (Bollinger) Easley. Gene married Barbara Joan “Jo” Cramblet on August 2, 1958 in Vermont, IL. She survives.

Also surviving are his 3 sons, Monte (and Penny) Easley of Ipava, Kevin (and Marcy) Easley of Ipava, and Kelly (and Leslie) Easley of Timewell, IL, 2 God-daughters, Amanda (and David) Grove of Macomb, IL and Andrea Sears of Ipava, 9 grandchildren, Atrista (and Ivan) Massey, Andrew (and Abigail) Easley, Kaneessa (and Dustin) Stambaugh, Kelsi (and Justin) Dupoy, Laci Easley, Terra (and Matt) Crum, Haylie Easley, Holden Easley, and Jamee (and Buddy) Taylor, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 more on the way.

He is preceded in death by his parents and 3 sisters, Louise Steele, Charolette Baumgartner and Nora Abernathy.

Gene worked at the Vermont Foundry for 46 years and also helped his wife Jo with the Daycare she ran for 44 years.

He was a member of the Berean Christian Church, where he and his wife taught Sunday School for several years and he was on the Building and Grounds Committee. Gene coached little League and helped the boy scouts to build their mini-racers in Ipava. You could always find him on the roller-skating rink. He and Jo spent many nights skating and square dancing at the Wild Woods in Bushnell or anywhere they could find. They taught their boys to love roller-skating and as a family they would spend time together at the skating rink. For being respected citizens of Ipava, Gene and Jo were once Grand Marshalls of Ipava’s Camp Ellis Days Parade.

Service will be held at 11 am on Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Berean Christian Church in Ipava. Pastor Doug Krukewitt will be Officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Monday. Interment will be in the Ipava Cemetery in Ipava. Memorials may be made to the Fulton County Ambulance or the Ipava Rescue Squad.

Condolences

April 20th, 2018

Hi and kids. Gary and I are so sorry to hear that Gene passed away. Our prayers are with you.

April 20th, 2018

God took a good man yesterday. Will miss the teasing Gene always gave to the young children in Jo's daycare.

April 20th, 2018

So sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers to all of the family.

April 20th, 2018

So Sorry to hear this.My thoughts and prayers to all of the family. Lily Powell

April 20th, 2018

Soo sorry for the family's loss. You're all in my thoughts and prayers!

April 20th, 2018

So sorry to here this. Prayers for the Family! Bill and Sharon Ackley

April 20th, 2018

Sorry for your loss. Prayers to the family. Ron and Deb Strange.

April 20th, 2018

I am so sorry for your loss.He was one of the best. Prayers to the family. Geraldine Steele Crane.

April 20th, 2018

Sorry to hear about you loss. Prayers for your family.

April 20th, 2018

Sorry for your loss.

April 20th, 2018

Aunt Jo I'm so sorry for your loss. Praying for you all. Love Roy and Vickie Belville

April 20th, 2018

Sorry forloss

April 20th, 2018

Sorry to hear this, sending condolences to his family. Jim and Vicky Ackley

April 20th, 2018

Sorry for your loss

April 20th, 2018

So sorry to hear of Gene's passing.....he was a wonderful person and I have only good thoughts of him and Jo as they cared for my kids for years. Sorry for your loss. Brenda Hamby

April 20th, 2018

So very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Mike and Linda Blemler

April 20th, 2018

I am so sorry for your loss. I will miss seeing him.
Judy Cleavinger

April 20th, 2018

Joe and family , your in our thoughts and prayers, love ya all, Carter and Ketra Atwater

April 20th, 2018

So sorry to hear of this. Gene was great with the kids. Nicholas, Sarah and I send our condolences.

April 20th, 2018

So sorry to have lost my Uncle Gene and your loved one. Sorry I can't be with you, as I am losing a sister. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Bobbie and Ed

April 20th, 2018

Jo,Monte & Penny,Kevin & Marcy,Kelly and families- We were very saddened to hear of the loss of Gene. He was a very nice man; will miss his smile and kindness. Thoughts of all of you now and in the future.❤ Mike & Marla Rumler

April 20th, 2018

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Our grandson Easton Sullivan will miss Gene so much. He really was close to him and loved him. He will be missed by many.

April 20th, 2018

Sorry for ur loss our prayers go out the family

April 21st, 2018

So sorry for the loss of Uncle Gene. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Sorry I can't be there but I will be thinking of you guys. He was one of the best. Love to you all. Bonnie and Harrison.

April 21st, 2018

So very sorry for your loss our thoughts and prayers are with you. Steve and Anita Duckwilet

April 21st, 2018

We are very sorry for your loss.He will be missed.

April 21st, 2018

I never saw him that he didn't have a smile on his face and kindness in his eyes. He helped to keep some of my great-grand babies. God took another Angel home condolences from the Derry and Parker

April 21st, 2018

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. My dad loved to roller skate also, maybe they have already met at the roller rink in the sky! Peace and love be with you.

April 21st, 2018

Thoughts and Prayers are with the family during this difficult time.

April 21st, 2018

Dear Jo and family, Our hearts ache over the loss of Gene. We have warm memories of him and are so grateful for time spent with your family. God bless you with His strength and peace, you are in our prayers. Love to you all, Jim & Andrea Johnson

April 21st, 2018

Thoughts and prayers to the Easley family Gene will be dearly missed by all as he had a part in raising a lot of us from the ipava area I remember eating many suppers with him while finishing my homework and the hard working example he set will always be with me thank you for choosing to be a big part of young people's lives in this community love and prayers always Greg

April 21st, 2018

Thoughts and prayers to the family. We always saw him with a smile on his face. He was a great asset to the young people in the community Maurice and Kathy cox

April 21st, 2018

Prayers for all the Easley family, Gene was a super nice guy and will be missed by many. Bob and Susie Bucher

April 21st, 2018

I am so sorry for your lost. I enjoyed talking to him when he was in the hospital in Rushville. He was a very sweet and fun guy to talk too. JESSICA RICHEY housekeeper

April 21st, 2018

Kelly and girls so sorry to hear of your loss. Praying for your family at this time. May God bless and keep you in the hollow of your hand during this time of loss and mourning. Don, Jesse, and Felicity Southerd

April 22nd, 2018

I am so sorry for your loss. He was a wonderful man we all will miss him

April 22nd, 2018

So sorry for your loss,my condolences to the family. Thoughts and prayers to the family

April 22nd, 2018

Dear Joan and family, so sorry to hear if your loss. You were such a part of our lives for a long time. Love and prayers to all. Janet Edwards and Jesse Brierton

April 23rd, 2018

Kelly & family, So sorry to hear of your loss.
Jim, Mary and the Timewell Patton’s

April 23rd, 2018

My heart goes out to all of Gene's family! I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending love and prayers to all! Wanda (Baumgardner) Shannon

April 24th, 2018

My condolences.
Sandy Morrison

April 28th, 2018

My sincere condolences to your family. May you find comfort in the promise of Revelation 21:4 of a time when death will be no more and loved ones will be reunited.

May 2nd, 2018

To Jo and family :I believe I have met you both in Canton when Skirt and Shirt Square Dance Club was going strong, and my mom and I were very active in the club. My prayers are with you all. God bless you all in this time of loss.

May 2nd, 2018

So sorry I didn't leave my name -Danny Soper.

June 4th, 2018

When checking to see if another obit had been posted, I came across Gene's obit. I have many good memories of him, and I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. I loved watching him skate and mom (Betty Walker) loved to skate/dance with him at the TG Rink. I'm so sorry for your loss. Jalane Walker Anderson