Elmer W. Ifft, 94, Fairbury, died at 6:30 am Thursday, April 18, 2013 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Monday, April 22, 2013 at the Apostolic Christian Church, Forrest with ministers of the church officiating. Burial will be in the South Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Fairbury.

Visitation will be 2:00 to 6:00 pm Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9:00 to 9:45 am Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.

Mr. Ifft was born February 13, 1919 in rural Fairbury, IL the son of Samuel and Rosa Steffen Ifft. He married Emma V. Schmidt on January 23, 1944 at the Fairview Church in rural Belle Prairie Township. She preceded him in death on December 13, 2008.

Surviving are four children; Larry (Shirley) Ifft, Janice (Byron) Nussbaum, Duane (Mary) Ifft, and David Ifft, all of Fairbury; twelve grandchildren; Brent (Sheila) Ifft, Kristi (Lance) Knobloch, Jennifer (John) Fehr, Jodi (Michael) Schneider, Rachel (Grant) Rinkenberger, Wes (Ashley) Ifft, Lori Ifft, Theresa Goodwin, Sarah (Kyle) Steidinger, Lindsey Ifft, Beth Ifft and Jessica Ifft; thirty two great grandchildren; three sisters in law; Alberta Ifft, Colorado Springs, CO, Florence Schmidt, Forrest and Louise Schmidt, Fairbury.

He is preceded in death by one sister; Alice Lehmann, three brothers; Harvey, Albert and Raymond Ifft, one grandson and three great grandsons.

Mr. Ifft attended Cropsey High School and later Gallagher Business School, Kankakee. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII (1942-1946). He had been employed at General Foods, Kankakee. He began farming in 1950 and continued until his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church, Forrest; was a Belle Prairie Drainage Commissioner for forty years; and a member of Livingston Farm Bureau.

He was a peaceful and loving husband, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed.