JAMES "JIM" LEE HARDESTY

James Lee Hardesty, 73 of Neoga, IL passed away at 4:00 PM, January 11, 2022 at home. He was born March 10, 1948 in Neoga, Illinois the son of Alfred and Hazel (May) Hardesty.  Jim proudly served in the United States Navy on the USS Boxer from 1967 to 1969.  He married Deborah Myers on December 13, 1969 in Neoga, Illinois.  Jim worked thirty four years at Blaw-Knox in Mattoon, Illinois. Jim was a fifty year member of the Neoga American Legion, he served as a Neoga Volunteer Firefighter for sixteen years and was a former Neoga Police Officer in the 1970's. Jim enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and hunting.   Mr. Hardesty leaves his wife of fifty two years, Debby Hardesty of Neoga, Illinois; children, Christie (Tim) Elson of Neoga, Illinois, Derek Hardesty (Debby Carman) of Neoga, Illinois and Wendy (Tim) Waldhoff of Shumway, Illinois; grandchildren, Riley, Jordon, Harley, Alex, Clayton (Mallory), Wesley (Ashlyn), Whitney Shonk (Tony), Hattie Mae Crouse (Bretton) and Bryar; great grandchildren, Annabel, Rowan, Logan and Josephine; brothers, Jack Hardesty and William Hardesty (Karen) of Neoga, Illinois; sisters, Dorothy (Junior) Harl of Windsor, Illinois and Mary Herring of Neoga, Illinois; several nieces and nephews.
  Jim was preceded in death by his parents; son in law, Michael Strong; brother, Leo Hardesty; sister in law Helen Hardesty; sisters, Rosemary Hardesty and Florence Ossowski brother in law, John; brother in law, John Herring; sister in law Tammy Ferris; sister in law Judy Kingery and brother in law, Chester Kingery.
Memorials are suggested  to the Donor's Choice. 
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday January15, 2022 in the Swengel - O’Dell Funeral Home in neoga, Illinois.  Visitation will be Saturday January 15 from 9:00 AM until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in the St. Patrick Cemetery in Trowbridge, Illinois with Military Honors by the Neoga American Legion Post 458 of Neoga, Illinois. 
To express online condolences go to www.swengel-odell.com.

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