Edwin Gene Harms, 98. Fairbury and formerly of Forrest, died at 1:03pm Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at Serenity Villa, Fairbury.

His funeral will be at 10:00 am Saturday, September 19, 2026 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Forrest with Pastor Dave Castner officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Twp. Cemetery, Wing with full military rites accorded by the J.A. Folwell American Legion, Post 174.

Visitation will be 4:30 to 7:00 pm Friday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9:00 to 9:45 am Saturday at the church. The family suggests memorials be given to the Land of Lincoln Honor Flights or Serenity Villa, Fairbury.

Mr. Harms was born June 13, 1928 in Pleasant Ridge Twp., IL the son of Mano and Anna Metz Harms. He married Thelma Metz on June 28, 1953 in Forrest, IL. She survives in Fairbury.

Other survivors include three sons, Neal (Norma) Harms, Forrest, Dale (Debbie) Harms, Fairbury, Paul Harms, Forrest, four grandchildren, Emily Arbuckle, Mark (Lauren) Harms, David (Chelsea) Harms and Sarah (Jacob) Gassaway, ten great grandchildren, one brother, Donald “Duke” Harms, Fairbury and one sister-in-law, Beverly Harms, Venice, FL.

He is preceded in death by five brothers, four sisters and one grandson, Michael Edwin Harms.

Mr. Harms was a 1946 graduate of Saunemin Twp. High School. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War (1/5/1951-10/6/1952) obtaining the rank of Seargent.

Mr. Harms was a lifetime Livingston County area farmer. He was a lifelong member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Forrest helping to construct the current church building. He served as a Sunday school teacher and church council member. He was a member of the J.A. Folwell American Legion, Post 174, Forrest having been the Commander of the honor squad for 25 years. He also was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and Livingston County Conservation family of the year in 1983.