Earnest VanGilder Jr., 96, of Granite City, IL, passed away at 11:55 a.m. Thurs. June 18, 2026 at Evercare of Granite in Granite City.

He was born Nov. 8, 1929 in Murphysboro, IL to the late Verdie Lindsey and Earnest John VanGilder Sr.

Earnie had worked as a janitor for the Granite City K-Mart and also at Union Starch.  He was a member of the Pentecostal faith.

Survivors include a daughter, Gale Bilyeu, 4 sons, Jerry VanGilder, Brian VanGilder, Gary Wayne VanGilder and Mike VanGilder, 4 grandchildren including Doug and Kristy VanGilder, 2 great-grandchildren, a brother, Mike VanGilder, a half-brother, Robert Lindsay, a sister, Helen and 2 half-siblings.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda K. VanGilder, a grandson, Andrew Jackson Smith, a brother, Paul VanGilder, 2 sisters, Doris Lindsay and Carol Lindsay, 2 half-sisters, Harriett and Nellie and a half-brother, Sylvester Lindsay.

Graveside services will be held at Noon Wed. June 24, 2026 at Sunset Hills Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon, IL.

Arrangements with online information and guestbook through Wojstrom Funeral Home & Crematory may be found at www.wostrom.com.