James L. Nehrkorn
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[James Lawrence Nehrkorn, 85, of Tamaroa, passed away at 9:56 a.m., Saturday, May 28, 2011 at the St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia, Ill.
He was born on Jan. 5, 1926 at Centralia, Ill. the son of Fred and Georgia (Quinn) Nehrkorn.
He served in the United States Navy during World War II as a Seaman First Class. He received five combat stars for action in the Pacific aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10) and participated in the liberation of the Philippines. An avid athlete and Cardinal fan, he was a member of the Tamaroa Merchants Baseball Team in the 1940-50's and was one of the members involved in the building of their own lighted ballpark in 1949. He was a lifelong carpenter and worked for Du Quoin Home Lumber in the 1960's. He was a life member and former officer of the American Legion and a former member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was of the Protestant faith and loved to sing hymns with his grandson and hear him play the organ.
He married Mary Naliborski on Oct. 6, 1956 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Du Bois, Ill. and she preceded him in death on Aug. 27, 2002.
He is survived by his daughter Michelle (William) Rojek of Du Quoin and his grandson Justin James Rojek of Montgomery, Ala.
He is preceded in death by his wife, parents and three sisters- Sylvia Keller, Martha "Pat" McKenzie and Bessie Clay.
Funeral services were at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at the Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa with Rev. Mark Minor officiating.
Friends called from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa.
Burial was in the Tamaroa Cemetery at Tamaroa.
Military graveside rites were conducted by the Du Quoin VFW and American Legion and US Navy.
Friends may make memorials to the American Legion and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.