Garold L. Christian

Garold Leroy Christian, 88 years old of Sorento, IL passed away August 28, 2025. Visitation will be held at the Sorento United Methodist Church on September 2, 2025. Family will gather at 10:00 and open visitation will begin at 11:00 with funeral services immediately following. Burial will be in Sunnyside Cemetery, Sorento.

Garold was born October 18, 1936, in Coffeen, IL, son of the late John Henry Christian and Alma Alice (Lazenby) Tarran. On June 9, 1990, Garold and Nadine Sidwell were united in matrimony at the Reno Baptist Church. They enjoyed over 30 years together before Nadine passed away in 2021.

Garold built and operated Garold’s Country Music Dancing dance hall in rural Irving, IL for thirty years. Garold’s Place featured live country bands on the best dance floor in mid-Illinois. Enthusiastic dancers would fill the dance floor every Friday night.

Garold proudly served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany for 2 ½ years in the late 1950’s. He was on the crew of Atomic Annie, the atomic cannon capable of firing nuclear rounds. Being stationed in Germany gave him the opportunity to see much of Europe. It made his day to tell anyone about that time in his life. He was thrilled to have had the opportunity to take the Honor Flight as a Korea era veteran to Washington, DC last year.

Garold attended Hillsboro High School but completed his high school studies in the army. His working career included Laclede Steel in Alton, Eagle-Pitcher in Hillsboro, and as CNA in Litchfield. Along with regular jobs he helped out on the family farm, at his mother and stepfather’s greenhouse and his brother’s Dog-N-Suds drive-in.

A member of the Reno Baptist Church, Garold more recently attended the United Methodist Church in Sorento. Mr. Christian belonged to Masonic Lodge #51 in Hillsboro and Ainad Shriners in E. St. Louis.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, George Kenneth Christian, sister Melva Irene Beeler, sister-in-law, Marlene Christian and brother-in-law Donald Beeler.

Mr. Christian is survived by his sister Christene Welch, stepchildren; Sharon (Eldon) Young, Stacey (Pam) Sidwell, and Stephen (Linda) Sidwell, grandchildren; Joni (John) Sanders, Danny (Andrea) Young, Tina (Nathan) Elam, Toni Sidwell, and Michael (Elizabeth) Sidwell, nieces; Bronwyn (Riaz) Castillo, Janet Douglas, Kim Groesbeck, Donna (Rick) Funderburk, nephews; Joe (Lori) Beeler, Mike (Lori) Beeler, Clay (Sherri) Beeler, Shane (Michelle) Pavolka, Eric (Rachel) Pavolka, and many great-grandchildren, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.

Assalley Funeral Home in Greenville has been entrusted to provide services.