Gene Proffitt

WILMINGTON—Gene Proffitt, 75, of Wilmington, passed away Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at Miller Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Kankakee.
Born April 4, 1944, in Joliet, Gene was a son of Lester Brasel and Amy (Emberton) Proffitt. He was raised and educated in Wilmington, and went on to honorably serve in the United States Army.
Gene was an exceptional mechanic who retired from Valley Concrete in Joliet, and enjoyed tinkering on anything mechanical. In his free time he loved racing, swap meets and car shows, as well as hanging out with his friends and grandkids.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia “Ginny;” four children: Brian (Toni) Brown, of Coal City; Owin (Kelly) Proffitt, of Wilmington and Gale (Michael) Cottles and Kirk (Katrina) Proffitt, both of Alabama; several grandchildren, one brother, Harold (the late Pat) Proffitt, of Winchester, IL; one sister, Joan (John) Thompson, of Wilmington; his mother-in-law, Phyllis Saben, of Coal City and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Dave Brown, of Costa Rica; Larry Brown, of Coal City; Barb (Dennis) Lenzie, of Braceville; Mike (Todd) Glenn, of Homer Glen and Trudy (Sean), of Chicago.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents and one brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Marilyn Proffitt.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
The family will receive friends for a celebration of Gene’s life at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 E. Kahler Rd. in Wilmington on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019 between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m.
Inurnment with full military honors will follow Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Family and friends wishing to attend the cemetery services will assemble at the funeral home Monday at 8:45 a.m. for a procession which will depart at 9 a.m.
Preferred memorials in lieu of flowers may be made as gifts in Gene’s memory to Joliet Area Community Hospice, 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, IL 60431.
Family and friends may sign the guest book, upload photographs or share Gene’s memorial page online through social media by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com/notices/Gene-Proffitt
Cremation services and memorial arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington.