Sidney "Sid" Feller
SPRINGFIELD - Sidney "Sid" Feller, 93, of Springfield, died Thursday, July 28, 2011 at St. John's Hospital.
He was born February 15, 1918, in New Jersey, the son of Morris and Fannie Glass Feller. He married Pauline Corsaro in 1939.
His parents, one sister, and his wife preceded him in death.
Mr. Feller was a World War II Veteran, serving in the American Theatre in the U.S. Army. He was a resident of Springfield since 1943. He retired from S.J. Groves & Sons Company where he was employed for 23 years. Prior thereto, he worked for Allis Chalmers, Roberts Brothers, U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and various other governmental agencies.
He was an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus Council 364 where he was a past Recording Secretary, Past Newsletter Editor and a member of their Third Degree Team. He was also a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Bishop Griffin Assembly.
He was a lifetime member of AARP Chapter 195 Sangamon County, where in 1984 he was Treasurer, and in 1985 and 1986 President. In subsequent years, he served on their Boards.
Mr. Feller helped at the beginning of the SHIP Program (Senior Health Insurance Program) outlining the various problems he was having in assisting with their Medicare and Medicare Supplemental Insurance Claims. He also volunteered to do mailings at Kumler Neighborhood Ministries, The Mary Bryant Home for the Blind and many state offices, including the Genetics Section of the Department of Public Health and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. He tutored children at Harvard Park Elementary School in the first and second grades. He also tutored first grade reading at Springfield Christian School. Mr. Feller was a member of the RSVP State Funding Committee and in 1989 had the opportunity to be one of the speakers at the senior rally in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Springfield. He was also President of Saint Peter & Paul's Over 55 Club and the Participants Group at the Senior Center. He was instrumental in starting the Pinochle Round Robin at the Senior Center as well as assisting in other senior programs, including the "Vial of Life" program.
He was a past member of St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the Elliott Avenue Baptist Church. Upon his death, he was a member of the West Side Christian Church.
In 1948, while the Scout Master of Troop 39 at St. Patrick's Church, Mr. Feller received a "Certificate of Service" (President's Award). "Sidney Feller is granted this Certificate of Appreciation of his Service to Boyhood – Presented at the Boy Scouts of America, Abraham Lincoln Council." He had walked the Lincoln Trail on two occasions with his scouts.
Mr. Feller was an avid bowler, bowling in several leagues. He was very proud of his All Spare Trophy, (with a score of 183) which he received from then Secretary, Elmer Fischer, who wrote him a letter of authentication dated November 17, 1964.
During the past several years, his hobby was creating patterns from beads, for necklaces and bracelets. He gave them to so many, many people, young and old. He enjoyed his hobby because it was great making people happy. At one time, he was called "The Bead Man."
Mr. Feller is survived by his daughter, Saralyn (husband, Jack) Follis of Springfield; grandson, David (wife, Laura) Follis; and great-grandson Matthew (Matt) Follis of Hyde Park, New York.