PORTSCHELLER, ELMER R.
WASHINGTON — Elmer R. Portscheller, 84, of 1200 E. Partridge, Unit 14B, Metamora, died at 10:40 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004, at his home. He was formerly of 110 E. Holland, living there for more than 20 years.
Private funeral services will be held at Resurrection Cemetery and Mausoleum in Peoria. The Rev. John Verrier will officiate.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, for both Portscheller and his wife, Lorene, at the Mason-White Funeral Home, Washington Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cursillo program or Methodist Hospice.
He was born on July 30, 1920, in Washington to Raymond and Anna Opper Portscheller. He married Lorene M. Kirby on April 15, 1944, in El Paso. She died on Nov. 30, 2004, in Peoria.
Surviving are seven sons, Dave (Mary) Portscheller of St. Louis, Mo., Jim Portscheller of Sparland, Ray (Regina) Portscheller of Albuquerque, N. M., Carl (Debbie) Portscheller of Santa Rosa, Calif., Bruce (Susan Yoder) Portscheller of East Peoria, Roger (Sue) Portscheller of Metamora, Donald (Betty) Portscheller of Morton; two daughters, Lucy Portscheller of Petaluma, Calif., and Lynn O’Brien of Peoria; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Arthur, one brother and one sister.
Portscheller owned and operated Comet Supply. He also owned seven Texaco service stations in the Washington-Peoria area. During his retirement, he worked for Wehnes Trucking in Washington.
He served in United States Marine Corps as a Marine Raider during World War II. He fought in the Battle of Midway and Guadalcanal and was awarded the Silver Star and a battlefield commission for gallantry on Iwo Jima. He served in reconnaissance and was a scout sniper during the war.
He was a member of American Legion Post 100 and Veteran of Foreign Wars Walker Danforth Post 9016.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Metamora. He was a former member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Washington, where he sang in the choir. He made Cursillo No. 80 and was active in Peoria Curisillo movement.
He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 6707.
He was a lifetime member of Kennel Lake Sportsman’s Club in Morton and the Washington Historical Society.