Robert Elwood Harris, 92, of Beecher, IL formerly of Earlville, IL passed away Monday, May 16, 2011 at Beecher Manor Nursing Home in Beecher, IL. He was born August 29, 1918 in rural LaSalle County, IL, the son of Robert L. and Theda May Newlin Harris. He married Berniece Maude Mitchell on August 21, 1941 in Mendota, IL.
He attended the one room School District 305 and Graduated from Earlville High School in 1936. He farmed east of Earlville on the Humm Homestead and the Schmidt Farm which later became the Harris acreage. He was appointed to the AFC office in Ottawa for a brief time and was a hail adjuster. He served on the Earlville Co-Op Elevator Board, the Earlville High School Board, and the Earlville Library Board. He was an Elder at the Earlville Presbyterian Church. He was also instrumental in helping to start the Earlville Historical Society and served as their first President.
He is survived by his wife, Berniece of Park Forest, IL; two daughters, Bonnie (Charles) Swatek of Crete, IL and Mary Bissey of Champaign, IL; one son, Thomas (Loretta) Harris of rural Belvidere; six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Wright of Indianola, IA and Phebe (Gordon) Thompson of Henderson, NV and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Keith Harris and John Harris.
He attended the one room School District 305 and Graduated from Earlville High School in 1936. He farmed east of Earlville on the Humm Homestead and the Schmidt Farm which later became the Harris acreage. He was appointed to the AFC office in Ottawa for a brief time and was a hail adjuster. He served on the Earlville Co-Op Elevator Board, the Earlville High School Board, and the Earlville Library Board. He was an Elder at the Earlville Presbyterian Church. He was also instrumental in helping to start the Earlville Historical Society and served as their first President.
He is survived by his wife, Berniece of Park Forest, IL; two daughters, Bonnie (Charles) Swatek of Crete, IL and Mary Bissey of Champaign, IL; one son, Thomas (Loretta) Harris of rural Belvidere; six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Wright of Indianola, IA and Phebe (Gordon) Thompson of Henderson, NV and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Keith Harris and John Harris.
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