Harold R. Banning

Harold R. Banning, 90, of Geneseo, formerly of Coal Valley and Moline, died Thursday, May 27, 2004, in Good Samaritan Village, Geneseo.

Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley, with The Reverend Tim Snart officiating. Burial is in Glenwood Cemetery, rural Coal Valley. Visitation is one hour before the services. Memorials may be made to the Coal Valley Food Pantry at First Presbyterian Church, Coal Valley.

Harold Roscoe Banning was born April 8, 1914, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the son of Frederick and Edith (Slater) Banning. He graduated from high school in Goodland, Kansas, and attended the Kansas City Conservatory of Music. He married Joyce White on June 26, 1937, in Coal Valley. She died October 9, 1963. He married Ferne Bodeen Lees on January 16, 1965, in Coal Valley. He was employed as a tool hardener at International Harvester East Moline Works for 37 years, retiring in 1972. After retirement, Harold and Ferne spent several summers living in Cripple Creek, Colorado, where he was the engineer on the steam train which took tourists to the gold mine near Cripple Creek. He loved music and played the clarinet and saxophone. He played with the Maple City Band in Geneseo for several years, and took up the saxophone again two years ago and played at Good Samaritan Village until recently. He had a great sense of humor and loved life.

Harold is survived by his wife, Ferne; children and their spouses, H. Donald and Marcia Banning of Coal Valley, Jon Banning of East Moline, Joy Banning of Los Angeles, California, Beverly and John Chrisop of Monticello, Indiana, Mary and Wayne Taube of Coal Valley, and Shirley and Ken Roehrs of Newberry, South Carolina; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Frederick "Gene" Banning, and brothers, Fred and Robert Banning.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.