George W. Arbeiter

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ George W. Arbeiter, Sr., 87, of Murphysboro, died at 6:07 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2009 in Carbondale.

George was born in Murphysboro, March 18, 1922 a son to the late Ludwig Ernst Friedrich and Wilhemina (Niederbrock) Arbeiter. He married Grace Benson July 8, 1978 in Carterville. Grace survives of Murphysboro. George was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Murphysboro and was a retired maintenance foreman for several student housing dorms near Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Survivors include his wife, Grace Arbeiter of Murphysboro; one daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Robert Dawson of Edwardsburg, Mich.; two sons, George Arbeiter Jr. of Cobden and Allen Arbeiter of Du Quoin; one step-daughter, Tish Whitlock of Murphysboro; one step-son, Charles Whitlock of Pearland, Texas; six grandchildren, Victoria (Ronald) Kissiar, Barbara (Jamie) McLane, Jerry (Chris) Bracken, Cathy Arbeiter, Sara (Jonathan) King and Derek Arbeiter; seven great grandchildren; four step-grandchildren, Wayne (Robin) Gill, Darla Gill, Dena (Matt) Benning and Travis (Arieanna) Whitlock.

He was preceded in death by one grandchild and two sisters, Olga Todd and Alberna Hickman.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, May 15, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Murphysboro. Pastor Theodore Mayes will officiate. Burial will be at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 14, 2009 at Crawshaw Funeral Home in Murphysboro and from 9 until the hour of services Friday at the church.

Memorials are encouraged and may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran School and will be accepted at the church or funeral home.