Jerry Spears

Jerry Dale Spears, 82, of Buda, IL, passed away on May 10th, 2025, at OSF Saint Claire Medical Center. Cremation rites have been accorded, and a memorial visitation will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Vandemore Funeral Home and Crematory—Atkinson Chapel. Burial will be held at a later date at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Annawan, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Jerry Spears Memorial Fund to be distributed amongst local charities.

Jerry was born on July 30, 1942, the son of Marvin and Gladys (Stout) Spears in Fillmore, IL. Jerry went to school in Tampico and Geneseo. He married Barbara DeCraene on April 28, 1962, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Annwan. She preceded him in death on September 12, 2019. Jerry had many jobs, including being a farm hand and driving trucks around the Hooppole area. He later opened DeCraene Poultry and Bait Shop with his wife. He later returned to doing what he loved, trucking, for Betcher Trucking for over 40 years before retiring.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughters; Tina Roberts of Buda, Teri (Tom) Green of Chillicothe; daughters in law, Cindy Spears and Diane Sims; brother, Marvin Spears; sister Mary Ann (Marvin) Murphy; sister in law, Elaine Hilger; brother in law, Andrew (Billy Kidd) DeCraene; grandsons, Jacob (Tori Rhae), Mike (Audrey), Seth, and Logan; granddaughters, Victoria (Pancho), Tiffany, Jennifer (Dan), and Jessica; great grandsons, Jordan, Abel, Greysen; great granddaughters Emmieline, Lorraine, Gianna, and Abigail.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Gladys; wife, Barbara; sons, Jesse and Jeff; granddaughters, Kaylie and Jasmine; brothers, James, Roger and Otto; sister, Joyce Spears; sisters-in-law Rose Lowman and Carol Spears; brothers-in-law, Walt Lowman and Paul Hilger.