Donald R. "Sarge" Bearden

Donald R. " Sarge" Bearden, age 75, of Monmouth, Illinois; passed away at 8:20 am at OSF St.Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, on March 25, 2013. Don was born on April 11, 1937 in Monmouth and is the son of Raymond and Hazel Meyer Bearden. Sarge was raised and schooled in Monmouth, Illinois and graduated from Monmouth High School with the class of 1955. Don was first married to Linda Swails. He later married Wanda J. (Harris) Knowles on February 12, 1977 in Monmouth, Illinois and she is surviving. Sarge began work at Cavanaugh Motors in Monmouth and then entered Civil Service working at the Armories in Monmouth, Rock Island and Macomb for thirty-two years. He also was a member of the 123rd Field Artillery, a Service Battery of 2nd Battalion in Rock Island, from which he retired as a Sargent First Class in 1992. Don enjoyed riding and motorcycles and was a member of Gold Wing Road Riders for which he served as Chapter director of IL H2 from 1992 to 1996. Sarge also was a member and officer of the Central Illinois club of the Mercedes Benz Club of America. He also was an officer of the Warren County Auxiliary Police for over twenty-five years. Don for a number of years tended bar at the Monmouth Country Club. and then owned and operated Sarge's Laundromat on South Main in Monmouth, for a number of years. Don was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and Nascar Racing. Don is survived by his wife, Wanda J. Bearden of Monmouth, one daughter Susan L. Bearden of Killeen, Texas; and one son Steven (Amy) Bearden of Monmouth, Illinois. There are two granddaughters Mindy and Amanda Bearden and three great grandchildren, Payton and Kamrynn Bearden and Jordan Robbins, all of Monmouth, Illinois. Sarge is preceded in his death by his parents, and one sister Harriett Giddings. Services:A funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Friday morning 3/29 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. Interment with Military honors will be in the Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery. His family plans visitation for the hour prior to the service, receiving friends from ten to eleven at the funeral home.