- Date Of Birth: February 12, 1935
- Date Of Death: July 17, 2010
- State: Illinois
Earl Joseph McMeans, 75, of Jacksonville, died Saturday, July 17, 2010, at home.
He was born Feb. 12, 1935, in Jacksonville, the son of Leo Francis and Lela Mae Hegener McMeans. After 18 years of being together, Earl and Barbara Ann Handley were married Apr. 1, 2006, in Springfield. She survives in Jacksonville.
Also surviving are two daughters and one son, Brenda Nowalk of Murfreesboro, TN, Earl “Greg” McMeans and Karen “Susie” (Terry) Baker, both of Jacksonville; three grandsons, Brad McMeans, Matt Nowalk and Mark Baker; one brother, Jim McMeans of Naples; and one sister, Mary Allan of Decatur. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence and Donald McMeans.
Earl was self-employed as a cement finisher and worked for several construction companies, and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. His happiest times were spent teaching his children, grandsons, and wife, Barbara, the simple pleasures of nature. He was an avid trapper, fisherman, hunter of morel mushrooms and ginseng, and had a green thumb. Weekends were spent playing cards, Saturdays at the VFW with the “old-timers” and Sundays at his home with his poker buddies. Earl was a quiet and gentle man-even when playing pranks on unsuspecting friends.
