obituaries

Gerald Craigmiles

White Hall |

Gerald Eugene Craigmiles of Mount Pleasant, Utah, passed away on December 15th, 2017 at the hospital in Mount Pleasant. He was born in White Hall, IL on January 31, 1939 to the late Steven Eugene Craigmiles and Leta Marie Craigmiles Burkhart.

The family moved to Pittsfield, IL where he grew up and attended school. He loved going hunting and fishing in that area and many people in Pittsfield knew him as, “Smiley.” One time he and his good friend, Gary Kasson, rode their bicycles to Hamburg, IL to visit Gerald’s Grandma Clara Campbell, which was a very long trip by bicycle. He joined the United States Air Force when he was seventeen years old and was stationed in Kansas where he met his wife, Janice Holmes. He was also stationed in Idaho, California, and Klamath Falls, OR., as well as the countries of The Azores, Greenland, Morocco, and was a Vietnam War Veteran. After serving 20 years in the USAF, he retired and became a truck driver settling in Provo, Utah because he liked the area and was where he and his wife raised their three children: Yvonne, Jerry, and Terry, before later divorcing. Later he moved to Mt. Pleasant, Utah where he lived for many years. He enjoyed watching the deer and feeding them apples off of his tree, as well as his good neighbors. His hobbies were metal detecting, camping, and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his ex-wife, Janice, his oldest son, Gerald (Jerry) Wayne, who died at the University Hospital in Salt Lake City a few days before his dad, his best friend, Glenda Evans, and older sister, Eleanor Freeman.

Survivors include his daughter, Yvonne Johnson (Jeff) of Santaquin, UT. Terry Craigmiles (Leanne) also of Santaquin, UT. He also left behind six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, whom he cherished and loved dearly, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his older brother, William Craigmiles of Detroit, IL, sister, Byrl Rhoads (John) of Godfrey, IL and sister, Rosalie Kendall of Burlington, IA.

Gerald and his son, Jerry, were cremated as per Gerald’s wishes and will be interred at Indian Creek Cemetery south of Hamburg, IL where his father, mother, older sister, grandparents, and many other family members are buried. There will be a graveside service held on Tuesday, May 29th, 2018 at 2pm, at the Indian Creek Cemetery. Jerry Craigmiles was born December 24th, 1961 and died on December 9th, 2017. Jerry and Gerald, who was the youngest in his family, and will be missed greatly by all those they loved and who loved them.

Alexander & Gubser Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.


Obit Provided By:
Alexander Funeral Home

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