Arthur L. Sidwell (73) of Brownstown

Arthur Lee Sidwell, 73, of Brownstown, died at 2:53 a.m., Sunday, May 13, 2018 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham with his family by his side.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday, May 18 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effingham with Rev. Gary Fortkamp officiating. Burial will follow in Forbis Cemetery, rural Brownstown with military rites by VFW Post #9770, Brownstown. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Gieseking-Claggett Funeral Home, Brownstown and for one hour prior to service time on Friday at the church. Memorials may be to the donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be left by clicking here.  

Arthur Lee Sidwell was born on Monday, January 8, 1945 in Sefton Township, rural Brownstown, IL to Edward Wayne and Edna Ilene (Gurtner) Sidwell. He married the love of his life Margie Herrmann on April 5, 1970 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shumway. He was a graduate of Brownstown High School and earned numerous certifications from service schools around the country. He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Vandalia and was a proud veteran having served in the Army during Vietnam. Art’s career began on the farm which he loved dearly, he then became a machinist for the Norfolk and Western Railroad in Decatur. In 1975, upon moving back to this area and to the farm, that he so enjoyed, he and Margie raised their family. He worked as a machinist, primarily with Massey and Case equipment. He retired from the Vandalia Correctional Center. Since the start of his retirement, he was actively involved with helping to raise his grandchildren. Being good hearted hardworking farm people, Art and Margie have helped to instill a strong work ethic, kind heart and always to lend a helping hand in their grandchildren’s hearts. Together they have been their grandsons’ number one fans, always cheering along from the sideline of the basketball court and watching intently at the ball diamond. Art was known for his tall stature of 6 feet 5 inches, large hands, and even bigger heart. He had a great smile that was warm and inviting. As a true gentleman, he would always carry a handkerchief in his pocket available for family or friends. He never met a stranger and was always willing to help anyone in need. Art was always busy with his hands, fixing things and inventing useful tools. If he needed a tool or part to something he was working on, he would create them from scratch rather than purchase new ones at a store. He was self-taught in many areas. If anything was broken, he could fix it. Art was a hard worker, keeping a full-time job along with using his talented mechanical skills in the evening hours to help support his family. He was one of a kind. Art and Margie worked together to keep a large garden and grow their own beef cattle and hay while raising their beloved daughters on their small farm.

He will be sadly missed by his loving wife of over 48 years of marriage, Margie; daughters, Sheryl Sue Radloff and her husband Allen of Beecher City and Sherry Trask and her husband Jordan of Clarks Summit, PA; 4 grandchildren, Wesley James and A.J. Radloff and Luthor and Violet Trask; brothers, Paul (Sharon) Sidwell of Brownstown and Russell (fiancé Sherry Sizemore) Sidwell of Brownstown; and many nieces and nephews.

Art was preceded in death by his parents and grandchild Christian Arthur Reese Radloff.