Clare Serby, 92, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, December 19, 2021 at the LaSalle County Nursing Home.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on December 22, 2021 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Full military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard, following the service. A visitation will take place from noon until the service at the funeral home. Due to current State of Illinois guidelines, face coverings will be required.
Clare was born July 6, 1929 in Ottawa to Newton and Nina (Armstrong) Serby. He farmed in Schaumburg and Rutland Twp. and also worked as a letter carrier. Clare was an Army veteran and served during the Korean War. He married Yvonne Welch on March 28, 1953 in Peru. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 33, and the Letter Carriers Union. Clare loved to travel and visited all 50 states and drove to 49 of them.
He is survived by his wife, Yvonne; three children, Barbara (William) Ross, of Estero, FL, Jill (Robert) Brokaw, of Hernando, MS, Kay Smith, of Ottawa; five grandchildren, Robert Jones, Grant Brokaw, Valerie Contreras, Marcus Polancic and Jackson Smith; six great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Newton and Nina; one great-grandson, Kyle Jones; three sisters, Ruth Behrens, Lona Mae Stanford and Marie Murdoch; and four brothers, Kenneth, Vernon, Leo and Doyle Serby.
He was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in the Sanctuary of Peace.