Oliver S. Whitmer

Oliver S. Whitmer, age 85, of Galesburg, Illinois, formerly of Savanna, Illinois, died Friday, October 26, 2007, at the Heartland Healthcare Center in Galesburg,. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Burial will be in the Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna. Friends may call from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., November 13, 2007, one hour prior to the service at the Funeral Home.

Oliver was born on February 10, 1922 in Savanna, Illinois the son of Richard and Thresa (Veer) Whitmer. Oliver graduated from Savanna High School with the Class of 1940. On February 8, 1941 Oliver married Esther C. Dettman in Clinton, Iowa. Esther died on January 5, 1996 in Clinton, Iowa.

Oliver worked for the Savanna Army Depot during World War II. After the war he went to work for the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad. He Retired in 1982 as a Railroad Clerk after 38 years of service. Oliver enjoyed gardening, bird watching and model railroading. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family.

Oliver will be dearly missed by one son, Dennis (Mary) Whitmer of Freeport, Illinois; one daughter Rita (Doug) Simmons of Galesburg, Illinois; six grandsons, Andrew, Christopher, and Jonathan Whitmer, and Scott (Kari), Jeremy (Mindi) and Ryan (Kristina) Ritchie; six great-grandchildren.

Oliver is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Esther; a brother, Richard; and son-in-law Jerry Ritchie.