Obituary for Larry Wheat

SPARTA - Larry D. Wheat, 68, of Sparta, passed away at <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">2:47 pm</span></span>, Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at the Sparta Community Hospital in Sparta, Illinois.

Larry was born in Red Bud on September 2, 1947, the son of David and Laura Joost Wheat.

He married Karen Martin on February 3, 1998 in Palestine. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Vietnam conflict.

Larry was a member of the Steeleville Baptist Church in Steeleville.

Larry is survived by his wife, Karen Wheat of Sparta; three sons, Robert "Bobby" (Michelle) Wheat of Chester; Anthony "Tony" Wheat of Baldwin and Tim (Stacy) Gannon of Centralia.

Three daughters, Cheryl (Paul) Engelman of Arnold, Mo., Laura Wheat of Red Bud and Dawn (Rodney) Addison of Chester.

Fourteen grandchildren: Lacey Wheat of Sparta, Kylie and Emily Wheat of Oak Ridge, Mo., Bria and Gracie Wheat of Baldwin, Austin Wheat of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Shawna Stanley, Joshua Fortman, Tulsa Addison and Trey Decker all of Chester, Josh and Dylan Engelman and Becca (Dustin) McClintock all of Arnold, Mo.; and Kyndle Gannon of Centralia.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters - Bonnie Holland and Marie Kalmer - one niece, Sondra Holland, and one brother-in-law, Tony Kalmer.

Funeral service will be held at <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">3 p.m.</span></span>, <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Sunday, June 5, 2016</span></span> at the Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville with Rev. Gary Feldman officiating.

Burial will follow in Union Cemetery in Sparta. Visitation will be at Wilson's Funeral Home, Steeleville, where friends may call from <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">11 a.m. until 3 p.m.</span></span> <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Sunday</span></span>.

Memorials may be given to a Love Fund for family. To sign the guestbook visit www.wilsonsfuneralhome.net.