Nick Whitfield, Jr. Obituary (1966 - 2014)

Nicholas Ray Whitfield, Jr, affectionately known by his sisters as "Nicky", 48, of Danvers, died at 7:36 a.m., Tuesday, August 12 at his home.His funeral will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 19 at Eastview Christian Church, Normal with Rev. Ed Scearce officiating. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery, Peoria. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, August 18 at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Susan G. Komen For The Cure, Muscular Dystrophy Association or the Christmas Rescue Run in partnership with the Baby Fold.Nick was born on June 19, 1966 in Peoria, the son of Nicholas Ray and Cynthia Sue Weimer Whitfield, Sr.Survivors include his father, Nick (Mari) Whitfield, Springfield; paternal grandfather, William Whitfield of Farmington; three children, Jamie Lynn (Noah) Klopfenstein of Bloomington, Jessica Richelle (Valerie White) Whitfield of Danvers and Ryan Mitchell Whitfield of Minier, the mother of his children, Marilyn; his partner, Kristie Kowall; one grandchild, Elijah Nicholas Klopfenstein; four sisters, Jen Powell-Hager of Tennessee, Angela Whitfield-Pritchett of Peoria, Andrea (Autumn LandiVittori) Whitfield of Pekin and Tami Miller of Pekin; two brothers, Gabe (Brett Whitfield-Tate) Whitfield-Tate of Springfield and Bruce Whitfield of Edwardsville; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his mother, his paternal grandmother, Lora Jessie Whitfield and his maternal grandparents, Chris and Betty Weimer.Nick was a graduate of Forman High School and studied Swine Confinement Management at John Woods Community College. He served as a firefighter in the Air National Guards 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria. He was deployed during Operation Desert Storm and retired as a Technical Sergeant after 22 " years of service to his country. Nick also served nearly 20 years as a firefighter and fire investigator with the Town of Normal Fire Department. He served many years at the Normal Headquarters Fire Station and most recently at Station #2 with Engine #10.Nick loved fishing, the St. Louis Cardinals, vacationing in Florida, NASCAR, coaching his son Ryans youth baseball teams and spending time with family. Most of all he deeply loved his children and grandson. Nick was always their superman and will now forever be their guardian angel.