Vance Pinkstaff

Vance Pinkstaff, age 72, of Russellville, Illinois passed away on Monday, November 22, 2021 at his residence surrounded by his family. He was born on May 08, 1949 in Russellville, the son of Benjamin F. and Marybelle (Didlinger) Pinkstaff. He married Bertha ‘Bert’ Woodward on April 15, 1972, and she survives.

Vance was a union laborer for 35 years. After his retirement, he worked for CFCO, Inc., and was a lifetime commercial fisherman. He was drafted in the spring of 1969, and served his country as a Sergeant in the United States Army, during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in May of 1971, after receiving two purple hearts and a bronze star. He served as past Mayor of Russellville, served on the Town Board, and was a business agent for Local Labor 1255 of Lawrenceville. He was a member of the Flat Rock American Legion, Flat Rock Masonic Lodge, and a lifetime member of the Lawrenceville VFW. His most passionate hobby was being on the Wabash River. He also enjoyed being outdoors, hunting, trapping, musselling, building his own nets, playing cards, watching Western movies, and listening to country music. His family will remember him as a loving husband, dad, brother, grandfather, uncle, and brother-in-law.

Preceding him in death were his parents and one grandchild, Clifton Blake Pinkstaff.

Survivors include his wife, Bert; two children, Holly Kocher and husband, Jeff of Lawrenceville, Illinois and Clifton Pinkstaff of Russellville, Illinois; two brothers, Bennie Pinkstaff and wife, Phyllis of Robinson, Illinois and Ronnie Pinkstaff and wife, Nola of Carrollton, Georgia; one sister, Edra Creek and husband, Henry of Bridgeport, Illinois; five brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom Woodward and wife, Betty, Tim Woodward and wife, Kay, Betty Shultz and husband, Bill, Lucy Silver and significant other, Joe Wagner, and Rachel Hunsaker and husband, Larry; and four grandchildren, Parker Kocher, Paige Kocher, Mary Elizabeth Pinkstaff, and Wade Lackey.

Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, November 28, 2021 at 12:00 PM CST at the Emmons-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Visitation will be on Saturday from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM CST at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Price Cemetery with military rites. Memorial donations may be made to the Polar Bash on the Wabash.

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