Walter Earl "Walt" Bass Sr.

GALVA - Walter Earl “Walt” Bass Sr., 73, of Galva, died Tuesday evening, November 24, 2020 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria from complications related to COVID-19. 

Cremation has been accorded and graveside inurnment will take place at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 4 at the LaFayette Cemetery. Pastor Michael Miller will officiate. Military rites will be accorded by the Galva Fusiliers. Memorials may be directed to the Walt Bass Memorial Fund for a memorial to be established. Rux Funeral Home in Galva is in charge of arrangements.

He was born August 23, 1947 in Centralia, IL, the son of Elvin and Louise (Simer) Bass. He married Sally E. Breid on September 3, 1970 in Rock Falls, IL. She survives as does his children, Lonnie Bell of Port Richey, FL, Melanie (Scott) Lyons of Algonquin, IL, Tina Petersen of Mt. Vernon, IL, Walter E. “Wally” (Lisa) Bass Jr. of Woodhull, IL and Amy Bass and her significant other Barry Hargis of Kewanee, twenty grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters and a granddaughter Kayla.

Walt graduated from Dixon High School in 1965 and served his country in the U.S. Army during Vietnam and was stationed in Thailand . Over the years, he had worked as a farmer, coal miner, custodian at Black Hawk East, a truck driver and had cooked at Frakers Grove and Jimals. He was a member of the LaFayette United Methodist Church where he helped with Sunday school and the youth group and had cooked sunrise service breakfast at Martins Lodge for 20 years. He had been LaFayette Village Board President and had volunteered for the Stark County Food Pantry. He recently participated in “No Shave November” and enjoyed cooking and he especially enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In 2007 he was a recipient of a heart transplant from Derrick Jenkins and Derrick’s legacy lived on through Walt. This legacy included Derrick’s mom Jenny and her extended family.

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