Jacob Sitzes III

ALTON, Ill. -- Jacob M. "Jay" Sitzes III, 61, of Alton, died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, at his home.

He was born Feb. 4, 1945, in Cape Girardeau, son of Robert J. and Rachel T. Ruckel Sitzes.

Sitzes was a 1963 graduate of Sikeston High School in Sikeston, Mo. He retired from Granite City Steel in Granite City, Ill.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sikeston, and also attended the Methodist Church in Olive Branch, Ill. He was a member of American Legion, Elks, Eagles and Sikeston Jaycees.

He served in the U.S. Army.

Survivors include two daughters, Jayme Silva of Bethalto, Ill., Betsy Sitzes of Alton; his mother of Sikeston; a brother, Ned Sitzes of Bracketville, Texas; a sister, Susan McDonald of Eagle River, Alaska; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, a brother and a sister.

Visitation will be at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Sikeston, with the Rev. Geoff Postgate officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories.

Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

Announcement courtesy of Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo, Ill.