Ernest H. Pool, Jr.

Ernest H. Pool Jr., 85, of Ottawa, passed away on April 10, 2008 at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Gladfelter Funeral Home with the Rev. Douglas Williams officiating. Burial will be in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Mr. Pool was born in Ottawa on July 22, 1922 to Ernest H. Pool and Mildred (Keeler) Pool. His early education was in Ottawa schools. On August 16, 1947, he married Jean Arnold of Patterson, California, in Berkeley, California. He was a Veteran of World War II in the European Theater, serving as a Combat Infantry Officer with the 411th Regiment of the 103rd ("Cactus") division of the U.S. 7th Army. He was awarded a Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster and a European Theater Medal with 2 bronze battle stars. He graduated from The University of Illinois and The College of Law in 1949, receiving the degree of Juris Doctor, and practiced law in Ottawa until his retirement in 1992, first as an associate in the firm of Hibbs, Pool & Langer, and thereafter as a partner in the successor firms of Pool & Pool, Pool & Stockley, and Pool & Leigh at the time of his retirement. He was a member of The LaSalle County, Illinois State, and American Bar Associations, The National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, and The American College of Trial Lawyers. Other affiliations include The United Methodist Church, The American Legion Ottawa Post #33, The B.P.O. Elks Ottawa Lodge #88, A.F.& A. Masons Occidental Lodge #40, The Royal Arch Masons of Illinois Shabbona Chapter #37, the Knights Templar Ottawa Commandery #10, The 103rd Infantry Division Association of WWII, The University of Illinois Alumni Association, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, The Ottawa Boat Club, The Ottawa Noon Rotary Club, LaSalle County Historical Society, and The Reddick Mansion Association. Surviving are his wife, Jean A. Pool of Ottawa, two daughters, Catherine (Tom) Ciszewski of Ottawa and Leslie Pool (Laercio Cunha) of Ottawa, a sister, Peggy (Howard) Graening of Western Springs, grandchildren, Tristan Pool Cunha of Ottawa, Greg (Rhonda) Ciszewski of Maryville, Tennessee, and Theresa (Scott) Rodgers of Southern Pines, North Carolina, nephews William (Lynn) Graening of Plymouth, Wisconson, Charles (Karen) Graening of Brookfield, and nieces Sara (Craig) Patterson of Western Springs, and Susan Graening of Brookfield. Ernest was preceded in death by his parents. Pallbearers will be William Graening and Charles E. Graening, Dr. John M. Armstrong, Dr. John C. Harbeck, Verlyn Rinker, and Jay Sesto. Honorary Pallbearers will be William T. Eichelkraut, Samuel E. Parr and William Strong. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be at the donor's choice.