Chenoa - Francis D. "Bud" Vercler, 100 of Chenoa, passed away at 8:35am, Monday, October 7, 2024 at Martin Health Center, Bloomington.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 18th, 2024 at 11:00 am at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa. Friends may greet the family from 10 to 11 am prior to the service also at the funeral home in Chenoa. Military funeral honors will be held following the service in Chenoa Township Cemetery, Chenoa.

Bud was born on February 2, 1924, in Chenoa; the son of Rudolph and Mildred (Chapman) Vercler. He married Helen K. Yoder on February 8, 1948 in Fairbury. His wife, Helen passed away on May 10, 2017. His parents and three brothers also preceded him in death.

Survivors include three children, Dennis (Ann) Vercler of The Villages, FL., Joel (Nancy) Vercler of Bloomington; Gina (Michael) Wey of Austin, TX; seven grandchildren, Megan (Michael Plumber) Bones of Mapleton, IL: Rachel (Andrew) Bond of Bloomington; Christian (Cristina) Vercler of Chenoa; Jon (Molli) Wey of Bloomington; Erik (Mikey) Wey of Austin, TX; Bryan (Katherine Walker) Vercler of San Francisco, CA; Neal Vercler (Sara Morgan) of Mascot, TN; and eleven great grandchildren.

Bud served our country in the United States Army during WWII. He enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Army Air Force on December 2, 1942 and was discharged February 18th, l946. During his duty, he served overseas assignments in England and Newfoundland. He was trained and served as a ground approach radar technician during the final days of the war.

Bud had graduated from Chenoa High School in 1941. Following the war, he attended the University of Illinois, graduating in 1949 as a Bronze Tablet Scholar with a BS in Agriculture. He was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity. Bud was a self-employed farmer from 1946 to 2010. Bud was a longtime member of the Chenoa Methodist Church, a Charter member of the Chenoa VFW and a member of the Chenoa American Legion since its formation in 1946. He was a founding member of the Chenoa Historical Society. His family states Bud was a good man in a world that desperately needs more.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Chenoa VFW Post 8350 or the Helen K. Vercler Endowed Scholarship Fund at the Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University.