Joe Elmo Eyman, of Dixon, was born on October 4, 1926, at New Athens, Illinois, a son of Joseph Theodore and Minnie Bell (Davis) Eyman and departed this life at 1:05 p.m., Saturday, July 12, 2014, in the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, Fort Leonard Wood. Mr. Eyman had attained the age of 87 years, 9 months, and 8 days.

Mr. Eyman was united in marriage on October 4, 1975, at Kansas City, Kansas to Marjorie Naomi Davis. He was preceded in death by one son, Joe Eugene Eyman; one daughter, Bonnie Lenardo; his parents; two brothers, Russell Marler and Francis Marler at age six months; and two sisters, Betty Marlan and Minnie Ova Marler.

Mr. Eyman was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, St. Robert and was a Melchezidek Priest Hood Holder. In 1949, Mr. Eyman enlisted in the United States Army and served his country honorably during World War II, the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam War, retiring in 1971. Following his military career he had worked as a prison guard and security guard as well and being a farmer. He enjoyed collecting guns, cutting wood and hunting.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Eyman include: his wife, Margie Eyman, Dixon; one son and daughter-in-law, John and Liz Eastman, Foxboro, Wisconsin; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Linda and Arthur Balch, Lake of the Ozarks; Dawn and Mike Stanford, Sulphur, Oklahoma; Rose Carter, Dixon and Kimberly and Dan Dyson, Osage, Wyoming; three brothers, David Marler, Illinois; James Hurt and Rick Hurt, both of Kansas; three sisters, Juanita Stein, Illinois; Mary Windsor, Kansas; and Wanda Wilson, South Carolina; twenty grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted for Mr. Eyman at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, St. Robert with Bishop Robert J. Fower, II, officiating.

Interment with full military honors was in the Fox Crossing Cemetery under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Dixon. Pallbearers for Mr. Eyman were Brett Haller, Eddie Balch, Zack Dyson, Raymond Oeth, Tyler Dyson and Jamon Brown. Honorary pallbearers were James Hurt, Rick Hurt, Ken Wilson, Arthur Balch, Merval Windsor, John Eastman, Mike Stanford and Dan Dyson.

Memorial contributions are suggested by the family to the Disabled Veterans in memory of SSG Joe Eyman.