Willis G. Noel, 85, of Grand Ridge, passed away Saturday, July 8, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023 followed by funeral services at 12 p.m. at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home with Rev. Duane Kaufman officiating. Military honors will follow services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL at a later date.
Willis was born October 25, 1937, in Marseilles, to Clem and Mabel (Eichelkraut) Noel. On May 8, 1967, he married Jutta Zwiener of Heiligenstadt, Germany who survives. He served in the U.S. Air Force for twenty years retiring as a Master Sergeant. He was a member of the Marseilles American Legion Post #235 and the Marseilles VFW Post # 5506, where he was a past commander. He was employed by Commonwealth Edison, a captain in the Merchant Marines, and worked for LUMCON and Tidewater Marine. Willis was an avid fisherman and a lover of books, music, and art.
Willis is survived by his wife, Jutta; four daughters, Tami (Andy) Smothers, Julie (Gary) Wood, Jennifer West, and Kristine (Eric) Taylor; one son, Patrick (Chelsea Blixt) Noel; nine
grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Richard and Donald Noel Sr.; one sister, Jean Smith; one daughter, Kim Hall; and one granddaughter, Brooke Hall Pallbearers will be Ronald Boetto, Tom Crum, Henry Roe, and Don Tabor. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Greater Peoria Honor Flight, https://www.greaterpeoriahonorflight.org/.
Seals-Campbell Funeral Home
1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341
815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com