James Joseph Epley

James Joseph Epley, 91, of Pana, Illinois, died Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 4:41 AM at Pana Health and Rehab Center, Pana, Illinois. Visitation will be Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Kennedy & Sons Funeral Home, Pana. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Friday, May 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Pana, Illinois, with Father Joseph Havrilka officiating. Following Mass, Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Pana Township, Illinois. Memorials in honor of James may be made to Pana Sacred Heart School or Quad County Hospice. James Epley was born Thursday, April 5, 1934, the son of Jesse Edward and Dorothy Janette (Vits) Epley. He grew up in Pana and graduated from Pana High School in 1952. He later served in the United States Army. James Joseph Epley married Mona Audrae Erisman on May 22, 1965, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Assumption, Illinois, and she died July 25, 1998. James married Carolyn Newberry on June 16, 2001, in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Pana, Illinois. James had a long career with ten years in the gasoline retail business, thirty years farming, and fifteen years as a school bus driver after retirement. He was also very active in the community with memberships in the Pana Sportsman’s Club, Pana Elks Lodge, Moose (Lifetime Member) Lodge, Lions Club, and Pana Eagles. He held a sixty-year membership in the Oconee American Legion, and a fifty-year membership in the Pana Knights of Columbus, Council #896, where he served twice as Grand Knight. James was also very active in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister for several years. In later years, he was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and a nursing home ombudsman. James Epley is survived by his Wife: Carolyn; Children; Luke Epley of Pana; Nicholas (Michelle) Epley of Pana; Suzanne (Michael) Meislahn of Champaign, Illinois; Kyle (Kelly) Epley of Libertyville, Illinois; and Rachel (William) Anderson of Blaine, Minnesota; fourteen Grandchildren; five Great-Grandchildren; Stepchildren: Vicki (Timothy) Reiss of Ramsey, Illinois; Tami (James) Denton of Huntingdon, Tennessee; and Kelli (Victor) Bell of Ramsey, Illinois; Numerous Step-Grandchildren, Step-Great-Grandchildren, and a Step-Great-Great-Grandchild; Brothers: Jack (Noreen) Epley and Larry (Donna) Epley, both of Pana, and Steve (Peggy) Epley of Taylorville, Illinois. He is preceded in death by his Parents, first Wife: Mona; and Daughter: Mary Alison Epley, who died September 4, 1976; Great-Grandson: Bayden Lee Klein; Brother: Richard Epley; and Sister: Nancy Chladny.

James Joseph Epley

April 5, 1934 - May 1, 2025