GARDNER — Mr. Dale W. "Bud" Treasure, 88, a lifelong resident of Gardner, passed away Thursday, June 2, 2011, at his home, surrounded by his loving family, following a short battle with cancer.
Born July 15, 1922, in Gardner, Dale was the son of the late Charles A. and Viola (Watson) Treasure.
Bud was a former owner of Treasure Grain Co. in Gardner, along with his father Charlie, for 35 years. He was formerly employed at the Morrison Construction Company for 14 years. He was a member of Laborers Local 75, the Church of Hope in Gardner, the NRA and the Knifemakers' Guild.
Bud was World War II veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having fought in the battles of Iwo Jima, Saipan, Mt. Saribachi, Tarawa, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Tinian, Attu, Kiska, Guam, Okinowa and Tokyo.
Bud enjoyed knife making as a hobby and was a master knifemaker for more than 40 years. He enjoyed playing his harmonica and attending his World War II Marine reunions. He also liked to feed wild birds and could identify any species that came to his feeders. He always enjoyed attending the sporting events of his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Julia A. (Grobarcik) Treasure in 1990; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Alice and Karl Lutz and Lilla and Hiram Brownell; and one brother and sister-in-law, Albert and Mabel Treasure.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy (Reibert) Treasure, whom he married April 15, 1992, in Alexandria, Ind.; three children, William (Linda) Treasure of Troy, Ohio, Susan (John) Schultz of South Wilmington, Ill., and Linda (Ronald) Offerman of Channahon, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Audrey, Michelle, John and Candace Treasure, Treasure and Lindsay Schultz, Corey Ellis and Stefanie Offerman; one great-grandchild, Caitlin Ellis; two step-children, Jack Reibert of Phoenix, Ariz., and Cheryl (Howard) Ficht of Island Lake, Ill.; a step-granddaughter; and two step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at noon Friday, June 10, at the Church of Hope in Gardner. Rev. Jan Chandler will officiate.
Visitation will be two hours preceding services.
Interment with military honors will follow at the Braceville-Gardner Cemetery in Braceville, Ill.
The family would like to give special thanks to the Pontiac Hospice and Pastor Jan for their comforting visits.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in his name may be directed to the OSF Pontiac Hospice, the Church of Hope in Gardner or the Gardner Fire Department.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, Ltd., 401 E. Main St., Braidwood, Ill. For more information, call (815) 458-2336.