Harry E. Montroy of Evansville, formerly of Sparta

Harry E. Montroy, 91, of Evansville, Illinois, passed away at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Memorial Hospital, Chester, Illinois.

He was born to the late Harry H. and Hazel (nee Andrews) Montroy on June 25, 1930 in East Alton, Illinois.

Harry married Joan Hagan on Nov. 8, 1952 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Evansville, Illinois.

Harry graduated from Sparta High School in 1948 and joined the U.S. Army in October of 1948. He served three years in the regular army, attaining the rank of Sgt. E-5 in May 1951. Harry was proud to have served with the army of occupation in Japan.

He continued his education while on active duty with the University of Maryland. After his retirement, he attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville earning a degree in Business Education.

In October 1951 Harry was accepted as an officer candidate at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He graduated with the Artillery OCS class of 1952 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. His first assignment as a commissioned officer was with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Harry served with the American forces in Germany from 1955 to 1959. In 1962, Harry went to Vietnam where he served for 15 months as an intelligence officer. He returned in June 1963 and attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

His next assignment in Europe was with American Forces in Central Europe (AFCENT) in France and the Netherlands. He completed his service at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel in June 1970.

After retiring from military service, Harry and his wife Joan lived in Godfrey, Illinois where Joan worked as a primary teacher with Alton School District 11. While living in Godfrey, Harry attended Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois earning a degree in Business Education. When Joan retired from teaching in 1993, they returned to Randolph County.

Harry was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis Grove, Illinois where he was also a member of the Holy Home Society. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post #3553, a longtime member of the Chester Country Club, a member of the Randolph County Genealogical Society and a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus #3790. He was also a part of the Stone Cottage Renovation in Chester.

Harry is survived by his wife, Joan Montroy, of Evansville; their daughter, Georgia Marie (Jeffrey) Groppel; three grandchildren, Brittany Mayfield, Nathan Groppel and Elizabeth Groppel and one great-granddaughter, Karlee Yates.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 14, 2022 at St. Mary of the Divine Maternity, in Ellis Grove, Illinois, with Father Iuvenis Iheme officiating. Interment will be done at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Chester, Illinois.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday at the church.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary of the Divine Maternity Church in Ellis Grove, VFW Post #3553 or to the Chester Country Club.

To view this obituary and sign the register book visit www.wpfh.net.