James Gaylord Wirth, 84, of Urbana, formerly of Mahomet and Jefferson City, TN, died Monday, March 27, 2017 at 9:14 p.m. at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Gaylord was born September 2, 1932 in Pesotum, IL to Norman and Mary (Adams) Wirth.

He graduated from Urbana High School and served in the U.S. Army as a medic. He worked for more than thirty years as a grain merchandiser at Stotler Grain in Champaign.

Gaylord was a true lover of nature and the outdoors. He loved animals, hiking, skiing, skating and gardening. He raised chickens, ducks, peacocks and rabbits. In the last half of his life he enjoyed his many traveling and mountain climbing adventures from the Smokey Mountains to the Bob Marshall Wilderness and everywhere in between, as well as the mountains of Costa Rica and Maui. The more rough and rugged, the more he loved it.

He leaves behind two children; Carol Wisniewski, Savoy and Dale Wirth, South Carolina. He also leaves behind four grandchildren; Ashley Wisniewski (fiancAC. Paul Funke), Minnesota, Andy Wisniewski, Texas, Amber (Davis) Barcroft, Thomasboro, Nick Davis, Tennessee. Two great grandchildren; Daniel and Michael Barcroft, Thomasboro and sister Joyce Herriott, Mahomet also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Diane (Wirth) Davis, in 2007.

Arrangements are being handled by Renner-Wikoff Chapel & Crematory. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 2:00 p.m., at Mahomet United Methodist Church. A gathering of family and friends will immediately follow until 4:00 p.m.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter, 207 S. Prospect Rd. Suite 1, Bloomington, IL 61704. Condolences may be offered at renner-wikoffchapel.com.