Neal Deon Egner
Neal Deon Egner, age 84, of Carbondale, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.
He was born on April 13, 1941 to Cornelius Jasper and Iris Mae (Ritter) Egner in Cairo, Illinois.
On Nov. 26, 1963, he married Linda Jewell Manus at the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Ill.
Deon graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture and then went to work for the Illinois Department of Agriculture as a Livestock Marketing Specialist.
As a child, he was baptized and joined Cache Chapel United Methodist Church, later transferred membership to Sherman United Methodist Church in Sherman, Ill., and finally transferred his membership to Grace United Methodist Church in Carbondale, Ill.
Deon was an avid fisherman and loved listening to or watching the St. Louis Cardinals.
Survivors include his wife of over 62 years, Linda; Children, Michele Egner (Giri) Giritharan of Carbondale, Ill., Brent Egner of Kansas City, Mo., and Nita Egner (Dean) Lewis of Almena, Kan.; seven grandchildren, Dr. Andrew Giritharan of Nashville, Tenn., Dr. Ashley Giritharan (Alejandro) Urunuela of Edmond, Okla., Zachary Lewis of Windsor, Colo., Evan Lewis of Evans, Colo., Drake Lewis of Timnath, Colo., Brock Lewis of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Grant Lewis of Kansas City, Mo.; and one great-grandson, Mateo Urunuela.
Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Elaine (Egner) Brown.
Visitation was held on Thursday, Dec. 18, at Crain Pleasant Grove - Murdale Funeral Home.
Funeral Services was held on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 with Larry Gilbert officiating at Crain Pleasant Grove - Murdale Funeral Home.
Interment followed the service at Cache Chapel Cemetery in Ullin, Ill.
The family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made to Cache Chapel Cemetery and/or Grace United Methodist Church lawncare. Memorial envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
To view the obituary and/or to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.crainsonline.com.