Oliver Stanko

Canton – Oliver W. Stanko, 97, of Canton, passed away at 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, 2019, at Graham Hospital. He was born in Canton on April 22, 1921, to Stanley and Virgie (Spence) Stanko. He married Lois L. (DeFord) Stanko on July 12, 1942, in Canton. Lois preceded Oliver in death by six weeks. Oliver and Lois celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary in July 2018.

Also surviving are four children, Joyce Stanko of Canton, Glenn (Jo Anne) Stanko of Champaign, Gene (Theresa) Stanko of Canton, and John (Pat) Stanko of Canton; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Besides his wife, Oliver was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Clarence Stanko and Raymond Stanko, and his sister, Barbara Essex.

Oliver graduated from Canton High School in 1939. He played on the undefeated 1938 Canton High School football team, and is believed to have been the last surviving member of that team. Oliver entered the Army in September 1942. He served as a Supply Sergeant in the Army Medical Corps in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, France, and Belgium during World War II. After his honorable discharge in January 1946, Oliver returned to Canton with Lois and resumed his former job with International Harvester. He worked for Harvester in Accounting and Purchasing for a total of 37 years. Oliver was a member of Local 1333 of the UAW Office Workers Union, serving as Union Steward for 22 years. After his retirement from Harvester in 1977, he worked part-time for First Baptist Church from 1977 to 1983 and for Murphy Sedgwick Funeral Home from 1977 until 2005.

Oliver became a member of First Baptist Church of Canton in October 1948, where he helped build the Christian Education wing in 1951 and served the church in a variety of other ways. He sang in the Canton Male Chorus in the 1940’s and 1950’s, served as the Scoutmaster of a Cub Scout pack, and was a Little League baseball manager. Oliver was a volunteer delivery person for Meals on Wheels in Canton from its inception in 1977 until he was hospitalized in October 2018. One of his enduring fond memories was a trip with his three sons to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., in October 2004.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 8, 2019, at the First Baptist Church of Canton, where a visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Rev. Monroe Bailey will officiate. Burial will follow the services at White Chapel Memory Gardens in Canton. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels in Canton or First Baptist Church of Canton Capital Campaign. Checks for Meals on Wheels should be made out to Meals on Wheels, and may be sent to Mary Etta Scott, 546 N. 9th Avenue, Canton, IL 61520. Checks for the First Baptist Church of Canton may be sent to 301 East Elm Street, Canton, IL 61520. To make online condolences you may go to www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com