Ralph “Butch” J Nees
(August 30, 1941 – August 14, 2014)
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August, 18, 2014 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL with Rev. Mark Sanders officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday with Masonic rites at 6:45 p.m. by Jackson Masonic Lodge #53 of Shelbyville. Casual attire is requested. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Butch was born on August 30, 1941 in Shelbyville, IL, the son of Ralph Jacob and Kathryn Lorraine Hudson Nees. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1959. Butch was a bricklayer for Buddy Beck Masonry of Pana, IL, Holland’s Masonry of Shelbyville, IL and Stobeck Masonry in Decatur, IL until his retirement. He then worked for Phillip Strohl Construction in Shelbyville for several years. Butch later worked in the maintenance department at Moulton Middle School in Shelbyville. He was a member of Jackson Masonic Lodge #53, Moose Lodge #1294, VFW Men’s Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion all in Shelbyville, IL. He married Sharon Chaney on December 17, 1960.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon; children, Tim (Brenda) Nees of Toledo, IL, Katherine “Rene” (Steve) Fulford of Shelbyville, IL and Rodney (Margaret) Nees of Shelbyville, IL; brother, David (Birgit) Nees of Niceville, FL; sister, Sue Hankins of Shelbyville, IL; uncles, Harry (Nancy) Hudson of Shelbyville, IL and Wendell (Norma) Hudson of Arizona; aunt, Jean Hudson Doss of Indiana; grandchildren, Kyle (Nikki) Strohl of Olney, IL, Brittany Strohl of Shelbyville, IL, Christopher (Janet) Nees of Shelbyville, IL, Dustin (Laura) Nees of Niantic, IL, Ralph “Jake” Nees of Oklahoma, Lee Nees of Toledo, IL, D.J. Nees of St. Louis, MO and PFC Michael Nees of Fort Leonard Wood, MO; step-grandson, E3 LSSN Matt (Jessica) Karol of Florida; great grandchildren, Ky Strohl, Allen Nees, Annabelle Nees and Wyatt Nees; step-great grandchildren, Corbin Karol and Kason Padgett; several nieces and nephews; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his very special “Granny”, Edith Hudson Stevens; parents; uncles; aunts; and brother-in-law, Charles Richard “Dick” Hankins.
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