Silas "Si" R. Schmidtgall, 90, Fairbury died at 7:35 pm Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa.

Funeral services will be 10:30 am Monday, January 18, 2010 at the First Baptist Church, Fairbury with the Rev. Steve Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 pm Sunday, January 17, 2010 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9:30 to 10:15 am Monday at the church. The family suggests memorials be given to the First Baptist Church, Fairbury.

Mr. Schmidtgall was born December 23, 1919 in Cropsey, IL the son of Carl and Emma Aberle Schmidtgall. He married Beulah F. Towler on November 26, 1943 in Louisiana, MO. She preceded him in death on January 14, 2001.

Surviving are four daughters, Emma Coleman, Lawrenceville, GA, Ruby Frailey, Jacksonville, FL, Sylvia (Donald) Vore, East Peoria, IL, Glenda (Delmar) Platz, Fairbury, IL, one son, Robert (Brenda) Murray, Jacksonville, FL, one brother, Leroy Schmidtgall, Fairbury, IL, seven sisters, Caroline Hermann, Morton, IL, Florence Herda, Clermont, FL, Alice Barnes, Pontiac, IL, Lorene Davis, East Peoria, Lucille Drager, Bradley, IL, Erma Svoboda, Rockford, IL, Marjorie Kuntz, Gridley, IL, nineteen grandchildren, forty four great grandchildren and fourteen great great grandchildren.

He is preceded by one sister and one grandson.

Mr. Schmidtgall was a member of the First Baptist Church, Fairbury. He had been a heavy equipment operator who recently was honored for being a 50 year member of the Operating Engineers local #150, Countryside, IL. He also had owned and trained standard bred horses having raced at the local and Chicago area horse tracks. Another favorite pastime of Silas' was to join the Dave's gang at the 3rd Street Deli.