Wilbur Lee Tackaberry

Wilbur Lee Tackaberry, 91, of Litchfield, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2022 at his residence.  He was born November 24, 1930 in Ottawa, IL, the son of Archie and Ida (Sadler) Tackaberry.  His first marriage was to Alta Marie (Anderson) Tackaberry; they later divorced and she precedes him in death.  On October 2, 1976, he married the former Cynthia Sue Raines at First Baptist Church in White Hall, IL; she survives.

Mr. Tackaberry was a Litchfield High School graduate, Class of 1948, and veteran of the United States Navy and Air Force, where he achieved the rank of Chief Master Sargent prior to his retirement.  Very civic minded, he was active in American Legion Post 436 and VFW Post 3912, he was instrumental in the development of the Litchfield Veterans’ Memorial Gardens, and was very involved with area veterans’ needs and concerns.  He was active in the Litchfield Moose Lodge, was a founding board member of the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center, and owned and operated Tack’s Video.  He was a recipient of the Dorothy Kimal Award through the Area Agency on Aging, and was the St. Louis Globe Democrat’s Man of the Year in 1985. He enjoyed playing Santa Claus for several years; he was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.

Surviving him are:  his wife, Cynthia;

2 sons, Marcus (Madonna) Tackaberry of St. Charles, MO and Robert Tackaberry of Litchfield;

2 daughters, Carolyn (Roger) Dieckgrafe of Harvester, MO and Victoria (David) Bracci of Dardenne Prairie, MO;

Step-son, Dan Raines of Chester, IL;

Step-daughter, Julie Mathews of Veedersburg, IN;

14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren & 2 great-great grandchildren;

and a sister, Shirley Hughes of Decatur, IL.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Tackaberry is preceded in death by one son, William D. Tackaberry, 2 daughters, infant Tina Tackaberry and Jacqueline Fette,  3 brothers, Staff Sgt. Robert Tackaberry, who was killed in action during World War II in Munich, Germany, Kenneth Tackaberry and James Tackaberry; 4 sisters, 4 year old Aileen Tackaberry, Hazel Suits, Gladys Towell & Rowena Chamberlin.

A celebration of Mr. Tackaberry’s life will be announced at a future date.  The family suggests memorials be made to the Litchfield Veterans’ Memorial Garden or the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.