Harry Tolbert

HARRY TOLBERT

JERSEYVILLE - Harry Tolbert, 92, died at 10:15 p.m., Thursday, October 30, 2025 at Jerseyville Manor.

He was born on May 1, 1933 in Hamburg, Illinois, the son of the late Emial and Irene Mary (Kaiser) Tolbert, Sr. 

Harry was raised in Hamburg but made his home and raised his family in Jersey County. He was a hard worker all of his life, dedicated to providing for his family and taking pride in every task before him. He was employed as a Laborer with Labor Local 338 in Wood River, Illinois for 55 years, retiring in 2005 from RCS Construction. In addition to his career, Harry also remained actively involved in farming throughout his life, something he took great satisfaction in and approached with the same commitment and diligence that defined his character.

He married Patsy (Carroll) Mager on May 3, 2008 in Carrollton, Illinois, and together they shared many years of love, laughter, and companionship.

Surviving are his wife, Patsy Tolbert of Jerseyville; three children, Brenda Eardley of Moro, Denny and his wife, Joann, Tolbert of Jerseyville, and Susan and her husband, Joseph, Heitzman of Dow; along with Patsy’s children, Cory and her husband, Paul, Pohlman of Jerseyville, Ginny Becker of Alton, and Kenny and his wife, Tammy, Mager of Foley, Alabama.

He took great pride in his family, which includes his grandchildren, Craig and his wife, Tracy, Eardley, Derek and his wife, Terri, Eardley, Brian and his wife, Jessica, Eardley, Traci and her husband, Clayton, Whitlock, Ryan and his wife, Sarah, Tolbert, Jeremy and his wife, Elyse, Tolbert, Marissa and her husband, Wrigley, Marquith, and Jodi and her husband, James, Guthrie. His legacy continues through his great-grandchildren, Cody and his wife, Leslie, Tolbert, Makayla, Madalyn, Emily, Brayden, Blair and Cameron Eardley, Cara, Riley and Kinze Whitlock, Hank, Hannah, Hunter, Caleb, Finley and Ellie Jo Tolbert, Colton Marquith, and Olivia Guthrie; and his great-great-grandson, Titan Eardley.

He was also blessed with a large extended family through Patsy, including step-grandchildren, Lane and Clayton Eardley, Tyler and Summer Slaten, Ashley and her husband, Zachary, Ferguson, Joe and his wife, Alicia, Becker, Jessica and her husband, Nick McKaig; as well as step-great-grandchildren, Aria Peipert, Alaina Slaten, Owen, Colbie, Nola and Blair Ferguson, and Journey Becker.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Myrtle Fredenberg, Ruth Irene Webster, Marguerite Foster and Martha Gordon; four brothers, Charles Lee Tolbert Sr., Emial Tolbert Jr., Jesse R. Tolbert and Ray A. Tolbert; along with his stepmother, Minnie Tolbert.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of funeral services at 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Burial will follow at Summit Grove Cemetery in Kampsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family, in care of the funeral home.

Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com.

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