William E. Winkleblack, 93

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William Edward Winkleblack, 93, of Gillespie, died Saturday, April, 10, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Heritage Health in Carlinville.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday, April 21, at 11 a.m. at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Cremation rites were accorded. 

Mr. Winkleblack was born May 2, 1927, in Mt. Olive, a son of Edward Charles and Ella (Sandner) Winkleblack. He married the former Margaret Ann Chiarottino on May 31, 1952, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Collinsville, and she preceded him in death on Sept. 4, 2007.

He was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army Medical Corp. He was a sales representative for Morris Paint Co. and Pratt and Lambert Paint Co. He later became a life insurance agent with New York Life Insurance Co., as well as Catholic Knights and Ladies of Illinois (now known as Catholic Holy Family Society). He also was a life insurance agent with Plummer Funeral Home, selling pre-paid funeral trusts.

His true passion was music. He organized and led The Will Black Orchestra, which started in 1949. He played with the Dixieland Jazz Band, oftentimes playing at Heritage Health in Litchfield. He was also a member of Saints Simon and Jude Church in Gillespie. 

He is survived by one daughter, Cheri (Richard) Viner of St. Louis, MO; two grandchildren, Jason (Shannon) Viner and Jessica Viner; and two great-grandchildren, Molly and Conor Viner. 

Mr. Winkleblack was preceded in death by his parents and wife.

Memorials may be made to Saints Simon and Jude Church in Gillespie.

Online condolences may be left at www.plummerfuneralservices.com.