Casolari, Albert Barney 'Al' Jr.

1936 - 2019  (83 years)

• Name	Casolari, Albert Barney 'Al'
  Suffix	Jr.
  Birth	3 May 1936	Flora, Clay County, Illinois
  Gender	Male
  Reference Number	CASO.A002
  _FGRAVE	204255425
  Military Service	Korean War, Sergeant, United States Air Force
  		United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959) In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959,…
  		Sergeant (abbreviated as Sgt.), United States Army (Combat Arms) (Aug 1948-Feb 1951) In the Korean War era, this rank was called "Sergeant". There was no 3 stripe Sergeant insignia during this period.
  		Korean War (1950-1953)
  		Korea
  Death	27 Oct 2019	Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois
  Burial	Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois
  Person ID	I52031	Carl Wayne Gray Research
  Last Modified	1 Mar 2022

  
  

  Father	Casolari, Albert Barney Sr.,   b. 1905   d. 5 Apr 1993, Flora, Clay County, Illinois (Age 88 years)
  Mother	?, Alma E.,   b. 1906   d. Sep 1977 (Age 71 years)
  Family ID	F18840	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Davis, Merle N.,   b. 1936   d. 2018 (Age 82 years)
  Marriage	1959
  Age at Marriage	He : ~ 22 years and 7 months - She : ~ 23 years.
  Family ID	F18842	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Burial - - Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Albert B. “Al” Casolari, Jr., 83, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born on May 3, 1936 in Flora, IL, the son of the late Albert B. and Alma (Rentz) Casolari, Sr. He married Merle Davis on February 20, 1959 in Jacksonville, IL and she preceded him in death on August 10, 2018. Al served in the U. S. Air Force with the Strategic Air Command from 1954-1958. He later worked as a Senior Technician and Director of the Audio-Visual Department for the Illinois State Museum for 44 years, retiring in 2004. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield and was very active there, serving as an usher and elder. Al is survived by his daughter Dawn (husband Edward) James of Springfield; 2 granddaughters, Brooke James and Taylor James; 2 great-grandchildren, Addelyn James and Logan Andrew; 3 siblings, William (wife Chelsea) Casolari of Flora, IL, Shirley Park of Steelville, IL and Gloria Eskew of Kennett, MO; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Barbara Sims and Elvira Pierson. Al loved his family and spending time with them. He loved his little buddy, his Siamese cat “Pharoah”, and he loved participating in the Elders group at Trinity and making calls on members. He loved photography and always brought his camera to many family gatherings and we will miss the many wonderful pictures he took of all of us through the years. He loved reminiscing about Air Force adventures and re-telling the stories vividly many times. He loved sharing jokes especially after Elder meetings. He met Merle, the love of his life at the “Moonlight Gardens” skating rink and they were married 3 months later until her passing in 2018. Services are under the direction of Bisch and Son Funeral Home, 505 E. Allen, Springfield where visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 from 5 to 7 pm. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 31, 2019 at 9:30 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 220 South 2nd St., Springfield. A graveside committal service will be held on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 at 11 am at Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, with military honors provided by the Interveteran’s Burial Detail of Sangamon Coounty and the U.S. Air Force.