obituaries

Arthur Marcum

Staunton |

Arthur Lee “Skip” Marcum, 89, of Staunton and formerly of Granite City, passed away Sunday, April 3, 2022, at Meridian Village Lutheran Senior Services, Glen Carbon, IL.

He was born December 20, 1932, in Granite City to Arthur Henry Marcum and Ruth Muriel (Storey) Marcum. He married Nancy Lee Chessey on October 25, 1952, at the St. Elizabeth Church in Mitchell. They were married for 62 years, she preceded him in death. He entered the military service in February 1952 as a member of the 44th National Guard serving in Korea. Skip was awarded the Bronze Star while serving in the X Corps 512th Engineer Truck Company with the UN Command Military Armistice Commission. Skip was frequently requested to transport Generals and other high-ranking officials during the Peace Talks in Panmunjom Korea and frequently had General Mark W. Clark riding shotgun in his modified jeep.

Skip worked various jobs after leaving the National Guard; he drove a concrete mixer, worked as a gas station attendant, was a diver for Delps Salvage, and worked as a security guard at Granite City Steel. In 1966 he became a career firefighter when he joined the Granite City Fire Department, retiring after 30 years at the rank of Shift Commander in 1996. Skip was very proud to be a firefighter and first responder; he was a hero to many.

In his spare time Skip restored two 1952 Farmall Tractors, a Super C and a Super M, which he used to compete in antique tractor pulls at Homestead Harvest Days in Highland, IL, and Steam Show and Fall Festival Day in South Jacksonville, IL earning him many trophies and ribbons along with bragging rights. He drove his old tractors in the Granite City 4th of July parade as well as other community parades and tractor rides and was always a fan favorite with his cowboy hat, American flag, and smile from ear to ear.

He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Staunton and former member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Granite City. He will be remembered as a mentor to many and for the love and special times shared with his family and friends.
Above all else Skip was a family man; Nancy and his daughters were his life, and his grandchildren were his heart and soul.

He is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Nannette and Bill Cochran of Granite City, Sherrie Hoffeditz of Taylor Ridge, Kaye and Jody Maxfield of Troy, and Kelle Schmidtke; eight grandchildren, Zachary Cochran and fiance Kelsey Quade, Adam Cochran and Kitty Gray, Mick Hoffeditz and wife Jesse, Madison Hoffeditz and fiance Matthew Johnson, Clay Maxfield and wife Ela, Cole Maxfield and Lindsay Taylor, Alexis Schmidtke, Troy Garcia, and Jessica LeMaster, great-granddaughter Kamdynn Garcia, sister-in-law Mary Lou Chessey of Doe Run, Mo.; brother-in-law Thomas Marcus of Granite City, many nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by both parents and a brother Roger Marcum.

Burial will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Livingston.

Memorials may be made to St. Louis Children’s Hospital or BackStoppers.

Irwin Chapel of Glen Carbon is in charge of arrangements, where private family services are being planned.


Obit Provided By:
Irwin Chapel Funeral Home

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