Wilbert C. Kerchner, 87 of Mendota passed away February 22, 2019 at OSF St. Anthony's Hospital, Rockford.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Mendota with Rev. Harold Grafe and Rev. William Ultch officiating. Burial will be in Restland Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. in the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota.

Wilbert was born July 25, 1931 in Mendota to Carl and Rena (Mann) Kerchner. He married Carol Brucker of Franklin Grove on November 27, 1954.

Wilbert worked for over 40 years as a mechanic at Kaiser Implement of Mendota specializing in the repair and restoration of Minneapolis Moline tractors. In 1992 he began his own parts business and was well known as the expert in the Minneapolis Moline brand, serving customers and fellow collectors from all over the world. He also enjoyed tractor pulling and socializing with fellow members of the Minneapolis Moline collectors club. He served in the United States Navy for four years during the Korean War. He attended Mendota schools and was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church. He also enjoyed roller skating.

He is survived by his wife Carol Kerchner of Mendota; two sons Douglas (Deborah) Kerchner of Dalzell and Joseph (Lisa) Kerchner of Princeton; daughter Joyce (David) Doerhoefer of Vernon Hills; daughter in law Beth Kerchner of Idaho; seven grandsons; one granddaughter; brother Carl Kerchner of Mendota and a sister Ruth Molln of Ohio, Il.

He was preceded in death  by a son Jeffrey in 1994, granddaughter Destiny, three brothers, two sisters, nine step brothers and and three step sisters.

Memorials may be directed to Mendota Area Senior Services or St. John's Lutheran Church.