Obituary: Bryant
Eldon Leon “Nick” Bryant, 96 of Chenoa lost his brief battle with pancreatic cancer at the rural Chenoa home where he had lived for the last 70 years on Monday, July 6, 2020.
There will be a private family service on Friday, July 10, 2020 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa with Dr. Rev. James Wolfe officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 pm, Friday, July 10, 2020 in Chenoa Twp. Cemetery, Chenoa, with full military honors by the Chenoa VFW and American Legion Posts.
Public visitation will be 10 to 12 noon, Friday, July 10, 2020 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be directed to Livingston County Humane Society, Pontiac; First Baptist Church of Pontiac - Food Pantry or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The youngest of six siblings, Eldon was born on Christmas Day 1923, to Edward William Bryant and Ida Pearl (Tomlin) Bryant in Chatsworth, IL. He Married Helen Maxine Fosdick on February 28, 1947. She passed away on November 7, 2016 just a few months before their 70th wedding anniversary.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three children, Peggy Ann, David Earl, and Joe Douglas, 2 brothers, Harry and Edward “Bud” Bryant and 3 sisters Gertrude, Myrtle (Fellers) and Ruby (Fosdick).
He is survived by his daughter Nancy Waschle of Pontiac, grandchildren Jaime (Gary) Wykes of Odell; and Aaron Waschle of Flanagan; and three great-grandchildren, Carter William, Gavin Bryant Wykes, and Alivia Maxine Waschle.
At the age of 20, Eldon joined the U.S. Navy serving in W.W.II as a submarine electrician aboard the S.S R2 Peto 269 in the Atlantic and Pacific. Eldon was a man of many talents and skills. Upon returning home from the Navy, Eldon worked as an electrician for Central Soya from 1947-1950, at which time he began his own farming career in 1950 until he retired in 1984. During his time farming he also worked for Chicago Bridge and Iron in 1953 building storage tanks for Sinclair Oil Co. located in Pontiac on Rt. 23. He also began a quickly advancing career as a seed salesman for Cargil Seedcorn until 1974 when he went to work for Trico (Eppel) Paving as a blademan/motor grader for eighteen years.
He enjoyed working with his hands crafting many cherished pieces of furniture, wooden decor, and useful gadgets for friends and family. He was an accomplished horseshoe pitcher and created a special blend of clay sought after by champion pitchers around the country. He was inducted into the Horseshoe Pitching Hall of Fame in 2017. He visited the pool hall regularly and was active in his local VFW and American Legion. Just weeks ago he could be seen checking the fields on his Polaris.
