Mearl Clifford Landers, 95, of Bunker Hill, died on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 8:05 a.m. at his residence.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 20, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton. Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill assisted the family.
Mr. Landers was born Feb. 11, 1925, in Dorchester Township, to Fred and Anna (Weishaupt) Landers. He married Viola Anna (Koch) Gerdes on April 21, 1946, and she preceded him in death on Oct. 23, 1997.
He was a farmer who served on the Macoupin County Board for 20 years.
Mr. Landers was a member of the United Methodist Church in Gillespie, Staunton Masonic Lodge since 1956 and Ansar Shrine since 1957. He assisted many children with special needs into Shriners Hospitals for Children.
He enjoyed bowling and visiting Vegas. A jack of all trades and treasure trove of knowledge, he could fix anything placed before him. He went to school for welding so when his farm machinery broke down, he was able to fix it himself. He had a soft spot for those less fortunate than him and for animals, especially dogs. His buddy Fritz will certainly miss his master.
Growing up through the Depression taught Mr. Landers many talents on how to survive on little and how to respect every item purchased. He borrowed money one time for his first farm, paid it off in one year and never borrowed money again. The biggest lesson he taught to his children was that one’s value was measured by how they treated others, not the amount of money in their possession.
He is survived by his children, Marilyn (Orville) Sneeringer of Bunker Hill, Stella Goebel of Liberty, TX, Beverly (Mark) Landers Bennett of Benld, Carol Sue Landers of Virginia and Larry Landers of Benld; son-in-law, Jack Hochmuth of Staunton; grandchildren, David (Yoconda) Goebel of Kingwood, TX, Casey (Lacey) Goebel of Liberty, TX, Chad Bennett of Dorchester, Benisha (Sada) Abe of Asa Japan, Justin Hochmuth of Staunton and Janean (Zane) Northrip of Florissant, MO; great-grandchildren, Mickie, Sage, Marrujo and Asly Northrip of Florrisant, MO, Lauren and Charlie Bennett of Hillsboro, Bailey and Riley Goebel of Kingwood, TX, Mason and Hunter Goebel of Liberty, TX, Janette, Christina and Wyatt Hochmuth of Staunton, Toshiya and Nozomi Abe of Japan; stepgrandchildren, Theresa Curtner, Tina Sneeringer Craine and Jennifer Parkinen; five stepgreat-grandchildren; and eight stepgreat-great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Landers was preceded in death by his parents; son, Victor Landers; daughter, Judy Landers Hochmuth; great-grandson, Tsubasa Abe; and stepgrandson, Orville Gene Sneeringer, Jr.
Memorials may be directed to Shriners Hospitals for Children.Online condolences to the family may be left at www.kravanyafuneral.com.
