Jesse Earl Lake

Jesse Earl Lake, 91, of Quincy, formerly of Taylorville, died on Saturday, April 5, 2008, at the Illinois Veteran's Home, Quincy, IL. 

He was born December 2, 1916, in "lower" Vernon, IL, the son of Fred and Blanche Houston Lake. He married Nola Marie Williams on February 14, 1939, in St. Charles, MO. Jesse served as Mst. Sgt. in the U.S. Army and fought in WWII in the Pacific Theatre under Gen. MacArthur and was a member of the occupation forces that landed in Japan 2 weeks after the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. He also served in the Korean Conflict with the 385th Engineers. He was a retired coal miner, working at Peabody #7. He then became a licensed plumber and worked for Brown & Sons. Izatt Plumbing, and Jamison Plumbing. Jesse was a member of the VFW, UMWA, Taylorville Christian Church, and Union of Federation of Musicians. He was a self-taught musician and played the guitar and mandolin and entertained many people with his band "The Encores." He was also a guitarist in the Taylorville Municipal Band. Jesse had the honor of playing in Nashville, TN with Jerry Reed and Loretta Lynn. He also played on the Homer and Jethro Show on TV in Decatur, IL and on the Al Pig TV Show. Jesse was a passionate golfer, fisherman and an avid Cubs fan and Taylorville Tornadoes football fan. He and his wife spent 34 years as "snowbirds" at his second hometown of Bonita Springs. Florida. 

Surviving are his wife of Quincy; son, Ronald W. (Donna) Lake of Eugene, OR; daughter. Linda (Ernie) Irwin of Taylorville; grandchildren: Holli Foli, Julie Lake, Katie Lake, Daniel Irwin, and Amanda Irwin; great-grandchildren: Kellen and Aidan Irwin and Jesse Dillon Hill; sister, Betty Hall of Illinois; sister-­in-law, Francis Lake of Taylorville: and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert, four brothers and three sisters. 

Funeral service will be Wednesday, April 9, at 12:00 noon at Shafer Funeral Horne, Taylorville, with Rev. Richard Wamsley officiating and Daniel Irwin as a speaker. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Taylorville.