Edwin Varel

Edwin L. Varel, age 85 of Carlyle, passed away at Clinton Manor Living Center in New Baden, Illinois on Friday, January 1, 2021.  

Mr. Varel was born on September 8, 1935, in Bartelso, Illinois, a son of Louis and Mary (nee Pingsterhaus) Varel.  He married Irlene A. Haukap on November 7, 1962, in Germantown, Illinois, and she preceded him in death on April 13, 2002.

Mr. Varel is survived by a son – Kevin Varel and friend Debbie Dale of Carlyle; a daughter – Mary Varel Johnson and husband Jay of Livingston, Texas; his grandchildren – John David Crow, Ashley Brooke Hemker, and Nicholas A. Stoffel; a brother-in-law – Stanley Huegen of Albers; and a sister-in-law – Marilyn Haake of Germantown. 

He was preceded in death by his parents – Louis and Mary Varel; his wife - Irlene A. Varel; a brother – Leo Varel and wife Marcella; and his sisters – Martha Duing and husband Wally, Agnes Holtman and husband Joe, Clara May Huelsman and husband Joseph, Laura Laux and husband Laverne, and Lucy Korte and husband Alphonse. 

Edwin worked for Caterpillar in Joliet, then farmed until his retirement in 2005.  He farmed for 44 years.  He was a US Army Veteran, serving from 1957 until his honorable discharge in 1963.  Edwin was a member of St. Mary’s Church, the Clinton County Farm Bureau, the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the Carlyle Knights of Columbus, Council 1382.  He loved flying, riding motorcycles, traveling, and reading.  Edwin’s family will remember him as a loving and teaching father, who was quick to make a friend with his gift of gab. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, January 8, 2021, at St. Mary's Church in Carlyle.  A Private interment will follow.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2021, from 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. at Zieren Funeral Home, and on Friday, January 8, 2021, from 9:00 - 10:00 A.M. at St. Mary's Church.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  

Those attending the visitation and service are asked to please wear a face mask, observe social distance recommendations, and refrain from handshakes, hugs, and close contact. 

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Varel may be made to the family’s wishes and will be received through Zieren Funeral Home, PO Box 276, Carlyle, IL 62231.  

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.