Levi N. Rosecrans, 81, of Salem, Illinois passed away June 15, 2022, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
Born September 10, 1940, in Alton, Illinois, he was the son of Levi Nelson and Jettie (Wilson) Rosecrans.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at the Sutherland – Rankin Funeral Home in Salem, P.O. Box 97, 310 N. Broadway, Salem, IL 62881 (618) 548-1234, entrusted with the family’s care. Inurnment will follow at East Lawn Cemetery with friend Troy Cannon officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Salem American Legion Post #128 in Salem at the graveside. Visiting hours will be from 10:00 am until the service hour at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be made to Wounded Warriors or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted by the funeral home. Online condolence may be left at sutherlandfuneralhome.com.
A gifted airline mechanic, his career included working for Ozark Airlines, TWA, Gulf Coast Aviation, and Langa Air, retiring as their Director of maintenance. He faithfully served in the United State Air Force (1957-1978) during the Vietnam Campaign, retiring as a SMSGT (E8) with 20+ years of service, in the 17th Special Operations Squadron, Military Airlift Command, and the Strategic Air Command in the following locations at Johnson AB, Japan; Tinker AFB, OK; Nha Trang AB & Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam; Guam; K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI, and Scott AFB, Illinois. Decorations received were the Bronze Star in Vietnam, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, 4 Outstanding Unit Award Ribbons, Vietnam Service Ribbon, and a Good Conduct Medal. Levi was honored to be remembered on the Wall of Honor, located at the Mt. Vernon Veterans Museum located at the Mt. Vernon Airport.
Personally, he will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His sons enjoyed playing a good round of golf with him. He was a St. Louis Cardinal fan. Levi also loved to travel extensively with his wife Karen, wanting to show her the many places he had enjoyed as he traveled the world. He loved cruising, especially to Alaska, spending winters in Florida, and always loved working on his own plane.
He united in marriage with Marilyn Joann Webb, on March 5, 1960, in Alton, IL. She preceded him in death. He married Karen S. Brown on September 16, 2011, In Reno, Nevada and she survives in Salem.
Also surviving are his sons, Chris A. (Jill) Rosecrans, Wood River, IL, Duane (Tracy) Rosecrans, Edmond, OK, Mark (Vicki) Rosecrans, Columbia, IL, and daughter Julia (Rusty) Lee of Rossville, GA. Also left to mourn his passing are his grandchildren, Carly Dawn (Gage) Davidson, Levi “Josh” Rosecrans, Capt. USAF Cody (Addie) Rosecrans, Zachary Mark Rosecrans, Tyler Mark Rosecrans and Kenny (Monica) Bushue along with 4 great-grandchildren Fatima, Natila, Michael Bushue and Tilly Rose Davidson.
In addition to his wife Marilyn and his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Carmen Jean Rosecrans in 1977.
