Robert Jay Pritchard

Robert Jay Pritchard, 90 of Princeton. He was born September 11, 1921 in Lawn Ridge, Illinois to Jay and Pearl (Wilcox) Pritchard. He attended Lawn Ridge Grade School and graduated from Princeville, IL high school. He attended Brown''s Business School, Peoria, IL where he met his wife, Melda Magnuson of more than 70 years. He left to meet his Lord February 2, 2012. Robert worked at Caterpiller until joining the United States Army. He received numerous medals for service. He and his wife farmed in Bureau County in Tiskilwa, IL., then in Whiteside County at Deer Grove, IL and then again in Bureau County in Princeton, IL where he retired because of health problems in 1979 and moved to Princeton, IL. He was a grain, cattle and hog farmer. He enjoyed gardening and took pride in his orchard. People in Princeton enjoyed his "baker''s dozen" for a dollar sweet corn form many years. He sold it from the bed of his truck fresh from the patch. Robert was a former member of the Chillicothe, Tiskilwa, Tampico and Wyanet Methodist churches and a present member of The First United Methodist Church of Princeton. Robert was a life long member of the American Legion, 70 plus year member of the George Washington Masonic Lodge of Chillicothe, IL., Bureau County Farm Bureau, Florida Farm Bureau and a former Tampico High School board of directors. He and his wife wintered in Florida for more than twenty years and attended Faith Methodist Church. Robert volunteered at Fort Myers General Hospital, Lee County Hospital in Florida and Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton. Robert leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, three daughters, Kay (William) Mitchener, Peoria, Carol Wiggim, O''Fallon, MO. Elaine (David) Caldwell Princeton., 9 grandchildren; Suzanne (James) Allen, Kathleen (Robert) Bennett, Victor (Shannon) Murrie, Jake (Janet) Murrie, Tricia Stecher, Teri (Corey) Pursley, Corey (Liz) Wiggim, Cindy (William) Spitler and Seth (Johnna) Bickett. He leaves 17 great-grandchildren. He also leaves three nephews and two nieces, his wonderful doctor, Ketan Patel, M.D. his long time friend John Coers and great caregiver Vaysol Yaremko. He was proceeded in death by his brother, Richard Pritchard, one great-grandchild, two son''s in law, Jack Ziegler and Dennis Wiggim. Services will be Saturday, February 11, 2012 in the First United Methodist Church of Princeton at 11:00 a.m. with Jim Miller officiating. Military Rites will be accorded. Burial will be in the Putnam Cemetery, Putnam, IL. Visitation will be 9:30-11 prior to services at the church. Pallbearers will be Victor Murrie, Jake Murrie, David Caldwell, Coery Wiggim, Seth Bickett and Bill Spitler. Memorial May directed to First United Methodist Church, Princeton.