Harry Petty Obituary

Harry G. Petty Jr.

September 4, 1937 - May 18, 2025

Harry G. Petty Jr., 87, of Milan, passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Services for Harry will be 11 a.m., Friday at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Chapel Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Taylor Ridge United Methodist Church.

Harry was born on September 4, 1937, the son of Harry G. Petty Sr. and Grace (Hollowell) Petty. He married Sylvia Curry on October 21, 1956, in Taylor Ridge. She preceded him in death on October 23, 2020. Mr. Petty did construction work for local companies and then worked for John Deere until his retirement in 1981. He later worked for Augustana College. Harry was a member of Taylor Ridge United Methodist Church, I.A.M., Washington D.C. Lodge 1215, and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 0166. With his construction skills, Harry built two beautiful homes for his family with extreme precision. He enjoyed landscaping and bird watching in his scenic back yard, traveling in Europe while stationed in Germany, and his beloved Ford tractor. Harry was a U.S. Army veteran.

There were many angels in Harry's life who assisted in allowing him to carry out his wish to stay in his home.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Pamela Rinell (Tom Rossow), Taylor Ridge; grandchildren, Jennifer (Aaron) Sharp, Davenport, Jilena Rinell, Westminster, CO, and Molly (Levi) McCracken, Muscatine; great-grandchildren, Brooke and Kierstin Johnson, Alexander and Hannah Ewing, and Jade McCracken; a sister, Gertrude Amidon, Milan; brothers, Harvey Petty, Berlin, WI, and Jerry Petty, Rock Island; and several nieces and nephews.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sylvia; and sisters, Marie Swanson and Dorothy Fox.

Online condolences to wheelanpressly.com.