86-year-old Grayville resident, Lenard Ray Sturm died Monday, April 28 at West River Health Campus in Evansville, IN. He had lived there since suffering a stroke in the summer of 2012. A graduate of Crossville High School and the St. Louis College of Mortuary Science, he was a third generation local farmer and landowner. In addition to farming, he worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Oil and Gas Division for over 33 years, retiring as District Manager in 1999. He held leadership positions in the White County Farm Bureau, Grayville Methodist Church and Grayville Lions Club, which included his support and fundraising for the expansion and maintenance of the Grayville Park. He was also a member of the Elks, Sheba Masonic Lodge and E. St. Louis Ainad Shriners International.
Survivors include his wife Joan Sturm of Carmi; brothers, Bernard and Willard Sturm of Grayville; a daughter, Georgia Sturm Davis; son-in-law, Tom Davis and granddaughter, Carey Davis, all of Dallas, TX.
Funeral services for Lenard Sturm will be 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at the Grayville United Methodist Church with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery at Grayville.
Visitation will be 1 p.m. until the time of service Saturday, May 10 at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grayville Lions Club, Grayville Methodist Church or the American Heart Association for stroke education and research at donate.heart.org.
The Cook Funeral Chapel of Grayville is in charge of all the arrangements.