Wilbur Dale Church, 89. died at 5:30 p.m. Friday, August 28, 2026 at Jerseyville Manor.
He was born in Grafton, Illinois on November 3, 1936, and was the youngest of six children born to the late Thomas and Elsie (Plummer) Church.
A lifelong resident of Grafton, he attended Grafton Grade School, and graduated from Jersey Community High School in Jerseyville.
From 1957 to 1961, Wilbur served in the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command as an aircraft mechanic. He was stationed in Shreveport, Louisiana, helping protect our country during the Cold War. After his honorable discharge, he embarked on a 33 years career with Laclede Steel in Alton, retiring as a crane operator.
He married the love of his life, Mary Jeaneen Arnold on November 6, 1965 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Grafton, and they have been blessed with 60 years of a wonderful life. Together they raised their two children, Christopher (Melissa) Church of Springdale, Ar. and Karen (Jeff) Kinder of Brussels; and the joys of three grandchildren, Josh (Nicole Kress) Kinder, Will (Grace) Church, and Maria (Reb) Payne, and a great great granddaughter, Amelia Grace Payne.
He was also blessed to be a part of the Arnold family, and is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul (Pat) Arnold, Suzie Hedger, Kathleen (Ron) Reid and Martin Kirbach, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Thomas Church, Virginia (Bert) Britt, Ralph Church, Russell (Jean) Church, and Ida Mae (Milton) Watson; his parents in-law, Paul and Gertrude Arnold; a brother in-law, William Hedger; and a sister in-law, Barbara Kirbach.
A private visitation for family will take place at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 10 a.m. until time of funeral services at 11 a.m., with Father Martin Smith officiating.
He will be laid to rest in Scenic Hill Cemetery in Grafton.
Memorials may be made to the Grafton Visitor's Center-Edward Amburg History Museum, in care of Crawford Funeral Home. Any checks should be made out to the City of Grafton.
Memories may be shared with the family at www.crawfordfunerals.com.