U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
LESTER FOOTE
(1924~2004)
PEKIN ~ Lester Eugene Foote, Jr., 79, of 4222 South Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan, died at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday, August 18, 2004 at Park Place Living Centre in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was formerly of 1508 North Capitol Street in Pekin.
Born October 9, 1924 in LaHarpe to Lester Eugene Sr. and Ambel Gittings Foote, he married Newana Jerene “Connie” O’Connor on June 17, 1951 in Clayton. She died February 2, 2001 in Pekin. He was also preceded in death by one son (David R. Foote on February 13, 2001) and one grandson.
Surviving are two daughters, Deborah J. (Dr. Duane) Scogin and Leslie A. Zinkl, both of Portage, Michigan; eleven grandchildren; and one brother, Bon T. (Marilyn) Foote of Quincy.
A United States
Army veteran of World War II, he served as a combat medic in the European Theater.
A 1942 graduate of Blandsville High School, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1948 and a Master of Science Degree in 1952, both in Education from Western Illinois University in Macomb. In 1961, he received his Specialist Degree in Education from Northern Colorado University.
After 35 years in Public education, Mr. Foote retired as Superintendent of Pekin Community High School District 303 in 1980. During his 28 year tenure at PCHS, he taught government, served as a guidance counselor, as the Director of Guidance and as Principal of the East Campus. He then served as Director of Curriculum for the district and as Assistant Superintendent. He previously was a sixth grade teacher in Geneseo and a social studies teacher in Warsaw.
After retiring as Superintendent of PCHS, Mr. Foote began working in 1981 at Eureka College as Director of Financial Aid and later was an Associate Dean of Admissions, last working August 31, 1989.
He was a member of Empire Lodge #126, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Pekin, Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria, William Schaefer American Legion Post #44 in Pekin and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was a member and past president of the Tazewell County Retired Teachers Association and was a former recipient of the retired teacher of the year award. He also was a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association and Kappa Delta Pi, an honorary society in education.
He was former chairman of the board for the Tazewell/Mason Counties Special Education Association. He was past president of the Western Illinois University Alumni Association, the Peoria-Pekin Council of Social Studies Teachers, Section 8 of Illinois Guidance and Personnel Association, and the Pekin Lincoln School PTA. He was the former treasurer of the American Field Service and past chairman of the Mid-State Nine counselors. He was past president of the Pekin Optimist Club and was a past lieutenant governor of Optimist International. He also was a former member of the Boys and Girls Club of Pekin board of directors and served as a division chairman of the United Way of Pekin.
He was a member of First Baptist Church in Pekin, where funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 21, 2004. The Rev. Al Kurz will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, August 20, 2004 at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin, where military rites will be accorded by the Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at the Bethel Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Senior Ministries at First Baptist Church, 700 South Capitol Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554 or Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995.
WILLARD SHIPLEY
(1924~2004)
PEKIN ~ Willard Edward Shipley, 80, of 2100 Brookview Terrace, Apt. D, died at 1:20 a.m., Wednesday, August 18, 2004 at Pekin Hospital.
He was born June 18, 1924 in Pekin to Willard Field and Eleanor V. Bohlander Shipley.
Surviving are one son, Thomas P. (Elizabeth) Shipley of Groveland; one daughter, Mitzy K. (Jack) Welch of Groveland; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters; and one granddaughter.
Mr. Shipley worked as a rural mail carrier from 1947-79.
He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Eastland during World War II.
He was a member of the William Schaefer American Legion Post #44 in Pekin.
He enjoyed gardening and was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.
Cremation will be accorded.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 21, 2004 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Morton. Rev. Tom Murphy will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Peoria County World Wars Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 5638, Peoria, IL 61601-5638.
Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
PAUL KOCH
(1937~2004)
PEKIN ~Paul K. Koch, 66, of 2503 N. Parkway Dr., died at 5:25 a.m., Saturday, August 14, 2004 at his home.
Born September 23, 1937 in Peoria to Millard J. and Glenna M. Greeley Koch, he married Vickie Ann Fitzanko on June 22, 1976 in Las Vegas.
Surviving are his wife; 2 daughters, Holly A. (Daniel) Parr, III of Pekin and Heidi M. (John) Koch-Northrup of East Peoria; 1 son, Greeley S.(Karen) Koch of Highland Park, Illinois; and 5 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-mother, Naoma Kaufman; and 2 brothers.
Mr. Koch had been a co-owner of Pekin Distributing Company from 1971-85.
He was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pekin.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 17, 2004 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. Rev. Duane Stuber will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, August 16, 2004 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Tremont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Hope Cemetery, P.O. Box 607, Tremont, IL 61568.
DOROTHY MULARONI
(1933~2004)
PEKIN ~ Dorothy Ellen Mularoni, 71, of 1316 S. 12th St., died at 8:12 p.m., Friday, August 13, 2004 at Pekin Hospital.
Born March 21, 1933 in Hopedale to John Quincy and Florence Gardner Tompkins, she married Richard Mularoni on December 20, 1958 in Pekin.
Surviving are her husband; 2 sons, Richard (Patricia) Flanders of Atlanta, Georgia and Terry Flanders of Watseka; 1 daughter, Cheryl (Charles) Pocklington of Green Valley; 3 grandchildren; 1 step-grandson; 3 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Lucille (Lloyd) Martin of Delavan and Linda Travis of Hopedale; and 1 brother, Joey (Kim) Goodman of Pekin.
She was preceded in death by her parents; 1 brother; and 1 sister.
A homemaker, she enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing scrabble.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 17, 2004 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, August 16, 2004 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tazewell Animal Protective Society.
JAMES E. STEAKLEY
(1926~2004)
PEKIN ~ James Edward Steakley, 77, of 1834 Vienna Court, died at 1:19 a.m. Friday, August 13, 2004 at Methodist Medical Center of Illinois in Peoria. He was formerly of 1509 Hilltop Drive in Pekin.
Born December 24, 1926 in Delavan to William T. and Mae Fern Harms Steakley, he married Shirley Jean Baumgardner on November 30, 1946 in Pekin. She died May 8, 2001 in Pekin. He later married Priscilla Rose Reed Preston on December 6, 2003 in Pekin. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, William Bryan (Parichard Holm Steakley) Steakley of Los Angeles, California and Bradley J. (Chloe Orwell) Steakley of Chicago; one step-son, Jeffrey A. Cohenour of Tremont; one step-daughter, Lori A. (Rick) Blaich of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; one granddaughter, Kristine R. Steakley of Sterling, Virginia; four step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandsons; 2 sisters-in-law, Betty J. Baumgardner of Bloomington and Martha Butler of Morton; 1 brother-in-law, Dr. Carl (Mary) Baumgardner of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; and good friends, Diana and Donna Chiles of Bloomington.
He was also preceded in death by his parents.
A United States
Army veteran of World War II, he served in the South Pacific and Philippines.
Mr. Steakley worked for Keystone Steel and Wire Company in Bartonville, Conklin Lumber Company in Pekin for several years, and Bill Butler Deluxe Mobile Homes in Peoria. He last worked as a self-employed carpenter, where he purchased, remodeled, and sold older homes.
He attended First Baptist Church in Pekin.
He enjoyed traveling and wintered in Naples, Florida for 17 years.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday, August 26, 2004 at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel, where visitation will be one hour before services. Pastor Mark D. Friday will officiate. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery in San Jose.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 700 South Capitol Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554 or to the American Parkinson Disease Association Midwest Chapter, 2050 Pfingsten Road, Suite 127, Glenview, Illinois 60025.
DOUGLAS W. LEWIS
(1956~2004)
PEKIN ~ Douglas Wayne Lewis, 47, of 19139 Keller Rd. died at 7:47 a.m., Thursday, August 12, 2004 at Pekin Hospital.
Born August 21, 1956 in Pekin to Gerald E. “Pat” and Vivian Jane Vanderwerf Lewis, he married Robin Elizabeth Cook on October 6, 1983 in Pekin.
Surviving are his wife; his mother of Pekin; his grandmother, Eva Reardon of Pekin; 2 sons, Brandon Christopher Lewis and Wesley Robert Lewis; 1 daughter, Sara Jayne Lewis, all at home; 1 brother, Rod (Beverly) Lewis of Lincoln; and 1 sister, Renee (Danny) Terrill of Pekin.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Mr. Lewis worked for Keystone Steel and Wire Company in Bartonville for 29 ˝ years, retiring as a galvanizer in the wire mill on August 1, 2004.
He was an avid University of Illinois basketball fan and had coached basketball at the Boys and Girls Club of Pekin.
He was a member of the Independent Steel Workers Alliance in Bartonville.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 16, 2004 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin chapel. Rev. Michael McLeod will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, August 15, 2004 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club, 1101 Veerman Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
MERLE L. KAHLER
(1919~2004)
PEKIN ~ Merle L. Kahler, 85, of 444 South Parkway Drive, Apartment 405, died at 2:50 p.m., Monday, August 9, 2004 at Pekin Hospital.
Born July 9, 1919 in Tremont to George Sam and Chrisdena “Dena” Lay Kahler, he married Nellie N. Avery on August 21, 1945 in Pekin. She survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Judith A. (Dean) Schwindenhammer of Bartonville and Janice L. (Jim) Pribble of Pekin; four grandchildren, James T., III (Kris) Pribble of Pekin, Julie A. (Jessie) Dodson of San Jose, Jonathan D. Schwindenhammer and Deanna L. Schwindenhammer, both of Bartonville and three great-grandchildren.
Two sisters preceded him in death.
Mr. Kahler was a World War II
Army veteran serving in the South Pacific and attaining the rank of First Sergeant.
He worked as a meat cutter for 30 years, retiring in 1980 from Thompson’s Food Basket in Pekin as the head meat cutter. He worked at Thompson’s for 22 ˝ years. He then drove a school bus for Hoyle Transportation in Pekin for 16 years.
He was a member of Pekin Bible Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher for 25 years. He also was a deacon, a member of The Bible Class and a member of the Friendly Fishermen of the church.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, August 13, 2004 at Pekin Bible Church. The Rev. Richard W. Jones, Rev. Robert Goranson and Rev. Harold L. Pothoven will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 12, 2004 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pekin Bible Church, 2405 Court Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
LESLIE DAVIDSON
(1925~2004)
PEKIN ~ Leslie J. Davidson, 79, of 300 Charlotte St., Apt. 12, died at 6:50 p.m., Sunday, August 8, 2004 at Morton Villa Care Center.
He was born May 6, 1925 in Jacksonville to Leslie A. and Olive Mae McSchooler Davidson.
Surviving are 2 sisters, Marian L. Houston and Blanche (Ervin) Peplow, both of Pekin.
Mr. Davidson had worked as a mechanic at Hymbaugh Chevrolet in Pekin for 25 years. He had also been a farmer.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956-58.
He was a member of the Winchester Club at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.
He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and woodworker.
Private graveside services will be held at Lakeview Cemetery in Pekin. Rev. Richard W. Jones will officiate. There will be no visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin chapel is in charge of arrangements.
KEVIN LUTZ
(1955~2004)
DELAVAN—Kevin D. Lutz, 49, of 7322 Towerline Road, died at 8:37 a.m., Saturday, August 7, 2004 at his home.
He was born July 28, 1955 in Pekin to Kenneth Henry and Ann Carolyn Judson Lutz.
Surviving are his parents; 1 sister, Karin (Robert) Howland of Pekin; and 2 nephews, Justin and Sean Howland.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
Mr. Lutz farmed with his father in Dillon Township for many years.
He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Green Valley.
He was also a member of the Tazewell County Farm Bureau.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, August 9, 2004 at Sand Prairie Cemetery in rural Green Valley. The Rev. Thomas R. Wenndt will officiate. Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to his church or the Green Valley Fire and Rescue Department.
MARJORIE DICKEY
(1927~2004)
PEORIA ~ Marjorie B. Dickey, 76, of 505 Cornhill died at 11:30 p.m., Friday, August 6, 2004 at Rose Garden Care Center in Peoria Heights.
Born August 16, 1927 in Trigg County, Kentucky to Thomas and Fannie Hargrove Taylor, she married Herman L. Dickey on March 23, 1957 in Springfield, Tennessee.
Surviving are her husband; 2 daughters, Janice M. (Roger) Smith of East Peoria and Patricia G. (Rocco) Chumley-Reed of East Peoria; 4 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 4 step-great-grandchildren; and 1 sister, Vera Wyatt of Tennessee.
She was preceded in death by 1 brother.
A homemaker, she was a member of The Church of St. Andrew the Apostle in Peoria.
She enjoyed sewing, cooking, and crafts.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 10, 2004 at her church. Father Michael J. McKinnon will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, August 9, 2004 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Creve Coeur Chapel and 1 hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Spring Bay Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Church of St. Andrew the Apostle Children's Fund, 1601 Northeast Madison Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61603 or to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate.
