Sanford T. "Sandy" Searl, age 71, of Argenta, IL passed from this life on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013 at 5:24 AM at Decatur Memorial Hospital, Decatur, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church 2155 N. Oakland, Decatur, IL with visitation also one hour prior to the service. Visitation will be Tuesday evening at Calvert Funeral Home, Argenta, IL from 5-7 PM. Burial will be held at Friends Creek Cemetery, Argenta following the funeral service.
Sandy was born in Chicago, IL on Sept. 23, 1941 to Stacy and Edna (LaBrash) Searl. He was raised in Galesburg, IL where he graduated from Galesburg High School. He attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale majoring in engineering and was employed at Caterpillar, Inc. for 37 years retiring as a tool designer.
He married Connie Lading of Strasburg, IL on Sept. 22, 1963 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Strasburg. Sandy loved building and flying model airplanes, fishing in Ely, MN and traveling and hiking in the Rocky Mountains. He was a loving and devoted Christian husband, father and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Connie, his daughters, Sherri (Scott) Hays of Argenta and Stacia (Doug) Dowell of Bloomington, IL; 5 grandchildren, Cameron (fiancée Lauren Woodworth) Hays of Dodge City, KS, Olivia (fiancé Ian Rhode) Hays and Byron Hays of Argenta, and Will and Christian Dowell of Bloomington, IL. Also surviving are his sisters Arline (Ron) Pearson and Janice (Dale) Hatch and several nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Kay (fiancé Howard Dust) Halford, Joyce (Irvin) Searl and Jean (Larry) Lading. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Jeffrey Searl, his brother, Irvin Searl, and brothers-in-law Larry Lading and Larry Halford.
Joan Whitcomb (Larsen)
When I lived in Decatur, IL several years ago, I ran into this guy. We looked at each other and said, I think I know you...we found out we indeed know each other. Sandy and I re-connected and spent a little while catching up on what we knew about some of the same classmates. He lived in Argenta, IL. just a few miles on the other side of Decatur, so we had some of the same places we visited in Decatur. He was a very nice guy in high school and still was when we touched base with one another many years later. My condolences to his family at this sad time.
Joanie