Freeman "Doc" Greer, Jr.

FREEMAN “DOC” GREER, JR., 93, joined Heaven’s Choir on Friday, June 21, 2019 at Garden Place in Red Bud, Illinois.

He was born to the late Freeman and Iva (nee Bloodworth) Greer on July 15, 1925 in Dewmaine, Illinois; the third child of five.

At four years old, he acquired his nickname Doc because he would follow behind the country doctor, Doc Springs, every day on house calls. He always told people that Doc was a nickname not a title. The family moved into Carterville when he was in the fourth grade. That was the first time that he saw the cute little girl with too many freckles that would later become his wife.

In the fall, of his senior year of high school, he was drafted and joined the Marines. He spent his tour of duty during World War II in the South Pacific and China. He was wounded on the Russell Islands and receive the Purple Heart. He was sent to Teinsen, China at the end of the war, where his division accepted the surrender of the Japanese on the mainland of China. He was honorably discharged on February 14, 1946.

On Easter Sunday that spring, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He then served Him as a Sunday School teacher, deacon, choir member and bible study leader at First Baptist Church of Belleville and Westview Baptist.

He married the love of his life, Rosemary Thetford on March 29, 1946 and was happily married for 64 ½ years until Rosemary’s passing on October 10, 2010.

He graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1949 and began his teaching at Carterville Elementary School, where he also drove the school bus and coached the basketball team. He went back into the Marines during the Korean Conflict in 1951, serving at Camp Lejeune until 1952. The family returned to Carterville to teach and start their family. They had 2 daughters. He accepted a teaching position with the Cahokia School District. Chenot, Jerome and Elisabeth Morris Schools served as learning grounds in administration for Dad as he prepared to become the district superintendent in 1974 and then retired from Cahokia in 1984. He earned his master’s in administration from Southern Illinois University in 1956 and taught college classes for McKendree College in the late 50’s early 60’s.

He loved kids. He was always stopping to talk to the little ones when he was out. He played golf for over 50 years, was an avid Chicago Cubs fan all of his life, took up painting in his retirement, loved to play cards and bingo. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, great grandfather, teacher and wise advisor. He will be sorrowfully missed by friends and family.

He came into this world in a very small community in Southern Illinois and passed on in the small community of Garden Place. Both were loving environments and were blessed to have known him.

Survivors:

1 Daughter:     Jane (Ernie) Peiffer Prairie du Rocher, IL

1 Grandson:     Rick (Kendra) Gardner Belleville, IL

3 Step Grandchildren:     Adam (Shannon) Peiffer

Ernie Peiffer, III

Matthew Peiffer

2 Great Grandchildren:    Andrew and Rosemary Gardner

Preceded in death by: Parents, Wife, In-laws – George William and Bessie June (nee Halstead) Thetford, 1 Daughter – Mary Beth Wiskamp. 1 Brother – Leon Greer, 3 Sisters – Maxine Tomilson, Evelyn Grimes and Maryln Corley and 1 Sister-in-law – Elizabeth McKown.

Funeral Service:

11:00 am, Thursday, June 27, 2019

Pechacek Funeral Homes, Red Bud, Illinois

Officiating:

Pastor John “Jack” Kurrelmeyer

Rev. Dennis Felix

Interment:

Hillcrest Cemetery

Carterville, Illinois

Visitation:

Wednesday – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Thursday – 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Pechacek Funeral Homes, Red Bud, Illinois

Memorials:

Prairie du Rocher Community Library