Earl L. Marsh , age 95 of Freeport, IL, passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2017. The eldest child of Walter Marsh and Iva (Coon) Marsh, Earl was born on June 26, 1922 on a farm near Shannon, IL. Earl's family moved to Freeport when he was 3 years old, and Earl graduated from Freeport High School in 1940.

On his 20 ^th birthday, Earl enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres during WWII. While home on leave, Earl married Eleanor C. DeNure on March 22, 1945 at St. John's United Church of Christ in Freeport, IL. In 1946, Earl joined the Freeport Police Department and in 1951 he was recalled by the U.S. Navy to serve in the Korean War for 18 months. After his service in Korea, Earl returned to the Freeport Police Department and was promoted to Chief of Police in 1963, retiring from the department in 1972. Earl was a bus driver for Freeport School District 145 from 1972 until 1984. In later years, he worked part time for SuperValu and Bocker Auto Group in Freeport.

Earl served as 6 ^th ward alderman from 1974 to 1994. He was a lifetime member of the Illinois Chief of Police Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Masonic Excel Lodge and Scottish Rites. His memberships also included AMVETS, Freeport Tebala Shrine Club, the Germania Club and the Freeport Lions. Earl's favorite pastimes were fishing, hunting and woodworking.

He is survived by his son, Terry (Bonnie) Marsh of Freeport; daughter-in-law, Anita Marsh of Freeport; four grandchildren, Todd Marsh of Pearl City, Stacey (Ted) Renfrow of Atlanta, IL, Jeremy (Sarah) Marsh of Freeport and Megan (Luke) Sheffey of Pearl City; five great-grandchildren, Andrew Renfrow, Jesse Marsh, Parker Marsh, Elliotte Sheffey and Hudson Sheffey; Sisters, Joyce Jegerlehner of Cape Coral, FL and Joan Buscemi of Freeport, IL; and sisters-in-law, Geraldine (Vernon) Marsh of Ridott, IL and Lorna (John) Marsh of Freeport, IL.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; son, David; infant daughter, Pamela; infant great-granddaughter, Eleanna Marsh; brothers, Ken Marsh of Sterling, Vernon Marsh of Freeport, IL, and John Marsh of Freeport, IL; and sisters, Doris Carpenter of Naperville, IL and Betty Hoffmaster of Freeport, IL.