James ReeceJames ReeceJames M. Reece, 66, of Astoria died at 11:18 a.m. July 4, 2008, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
He was born July 20, 1941, in Rushville, a son of Marcus K. and Della Nall Reece. He married Linda Fanning on Oct. 31, 1964, in Rushville. She survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Gary (and Nefra) Reece of San Jose, Mike Reece of Astoria and Jay (and Brooke) Reece of Mason City; one daughter, Amanda (and Justin) Harvey of San Jose; one sister, Pat White of Peoria; one stepsister, June Young of Peoria; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and one stepbrother, Clarence Closen.
He was a PFC E-2 in the United States Marine Corp., and then in the Army Reserve as a SGT E-2 for a total of 24 years.
He worked on the assembly line at Caterpillar in Mossville for 26 years. He was a volunteer demonstrator at Lincoln’s New Salem State Park for many years and was an active participant in the Spoon River Drive.
He was a member of UAW Local 974 of Peoria.
Services were held Tuesday at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria with Robert Peterson officiating. Burial was in Woodland Cemetery in Astoria with military rites conducted.
Memorials may be made to American Lung Association.