Paul Sarrazin

Paul Emil Sarrazin

Age 84 of Wilmington, passed away on June 1, 2012 at Provena Saint Mary's Hospital in Kankakee with his family at his side.

Born November 17, 1927 in Greene, Maine, Paul was the youngest son of the late Arthur and Albina Lamothe-Sarrazin. On February 14, 1953, he married Jean Powlesland at the South Ruislip USAF Base in London, England. Paul served in the United States Navy from 1944 until his discharge in 1946, when he then joined the United States Air Force. It was the Air Force that Paul gave 20 years of distinguished service until his honorable discharge in 1966. Paul then worked at the Joliet Arsenal in Elwood until his retirement in 1974.

Paul loved his family and friends, and will be remembered for his enjoyment of golf, gardening, outdoor activities and watching football while playing pinochle with his sons and granddaughters. Paul was also a baseball umpire in the "A" and "AA" minor leagues while serving in the Air Force and started an organized umpire league in Wilmington.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years: Jean; sons: Paul (Pam) Sarrazin, Dale (Jacqueline) Sarrazin and David (Valerie) Sarrazin; daughter Carolyn (Randy) Koehn; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren; brothers: Rosaire (Liane) Sarrazin and Pete (Lorraine) Sarrasin; sisters: Theresa (Joe) St. Hilaire and Florence (Carroll) Sylvester and brother-in-law Lionelle Ferland.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; brother: Phil (Jeanette) Sarrazin; sisters: Mary (Adrian) Labbe', Loretta (John) McCormick and Lydia Ferland.

The family wishes to expend special appreciation to the staff at the Quincy, Manteno and Hines V.A. facilities, as well as the Blessing, Riverside and Saint Mary's Hospitals for the tremendous care. A special thanks to the Provena Saint Mary's MICU for their help and support during this time.

Visitation and Video Tribute will be held on Monday June 4, 2012 between the hours of 4:00PM and 8:00PM at Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. Funeral services will follow Tuesday June 5th at 10:00AM in the funeral home with Deacon Donald Dyer from Saint Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by the Abraham Lincoln National Honor Squad and the United States Air Force will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Pallbearers will be: Paul Sarrazin, Dale Sarrazin, David Sarrazin, Randy Koehn, Brian Sarrazin and Alec Brownlee.

Preferred memorial may be made as gifts in Paul's memory to the Alzheimer's Association - Greater Illinois Chapter, 8430 West Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago, Illinois 60631 (www.alz.org)

Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.FRBfuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. (815/476-2181)